#twiceoneshots

It was a pair of high-index eyeglasses of yours. You used to wear this when you were in college. Staring into it, you started to recall everything that this simple important thing used to hold many memories years ago. But the one that made you reminisce the most was the probably the most special of them all.

A smile formed on your lips as flashbacks started to run and play in your mind the firmer you took your grasped onto every temple of the eyeglasses while you deepened the stare within its each lenses, synchronized with your thoughts.

10 YEARS AGO

You just walked out of your classroom after your adviser announced to every one of you that the class is already over.

All prepared to go home, you maintained your direction from walking in the hallway through the near end main door of the building.

Your steps were abruptly halted when you noticed something that piqued your interest.

Yoo Jeongyeon, your classmate, was talking and laughing with other female students you assumed were her friends, except for the two you didn't guessed anymore because they were Jeongyeon's classmates.

Why is this the case? Jeongyeon is also a classmate of yours. She was the class muse due to her popularity not only in your section but throughout the entire class level. She is known as the "queen" because you learned that she is the daughter of a wealthy family, she has a bright personality, and her main feature is her beauty.

To be honest, you concur. Jeongyeon is unquestionably attractive. It didn't surprise you when she kept getting invitations to do modeling, enter a student pageant contest at school (which she always wins), and the last heavy proof you had was that many men and even women too on this campus are head over heels for her.

That wasn't the reason your attention was drawn to her group. It was mostly because you thought you'd never have the opportunity to hang out with others as friends, especially someone like Jeongyeon, who has a higher profile alike her friends compared to you.

You are nothing, you reasoned. You don't deserve these things. You had no idea that your time spent looking at them had drawn their attention to you, including Jeongyeon. They glared at you with confusion, cringiness and disgust. "What are you looking at, creep?" one of the girls asked who is the smallest out of them, her long black hair tied into a pigtail. Her mole on the lower lip was noticeable too.

Her words got you back and cut your thoughts away, conscience now cooperating with you once again. You just realized that all the 8 girls except Jeongyeon were looking at you with different feelings, possibly negative, as you awkwardly received their venomous glare.

"I'm s-sorry. My mind just went black.", you pardoned to the group as you quickly rushed your walk to escape them and leave the school building.

The girls just stood there watching your back as you slowly faded away from them, their eyes filled with awful look.

"Weirdo.", the tallest girl among them said, scoffing in the air. The rest chuckled, agreeing to what she said.

Except Jeongyeon who just shrugged.

THE NEXT DAY

The bell rang to alert everyone that it was now lunchtime. You entered the cafeteria, joined the line, and waited patiently for your turn just like any other human being until you reached your turn and asked what you shall receive.

Based on your preferences, a tray of kimchi, tteobeokki, and fishcakes has been served to you. Instead of eating in the cafeteria, you went to your favorite secret spot where you could be separated from the students and enjoy your food in peace.

To be honest, you didn't care for it at all. You may grow accustomed to it, but it occasionally makes you wonder how it will feel if this becomes... the opposite? For instance, instead of being alone, you have someone who can join you and do what every friend does when they are together.

As you were about to turn and walk to the back of one of the school buildings where your spot is, you were startled to hear someone crying nearby.

You took a gentle step and hid behind the wall, then slowly peered over the edge to see who it was, and to your surprise, it was someone you didn't expect to see here... and to be in this state at all.

Jeongyeon is crying beneath the tree, with her body curled like a ball.

You sat your tray on the nearest available bench and walked towards Jeongyeon. The latter sensed that someone was nearby and could hear footsteps going nearer to her.

When she saw you standing in front of her, she raised her head and her eyes widened. Your usual innocent and nerdy stance appeared completely in front of her sight.

"Jeongyeon, what are you doing here?" you queried, intrigued.

"I should ask you the same thing to you. What are you doing in here as well?" Jeongyeon retorted, her voice was raspy due to the effects of her sobs but it didn't sound as if it has any emotions to it including her messy face other than... sadness and devastation.

"This is my spot whenever break comes; I eat my lunch in here," you replied, moving your hands around the room.

"Now, could you tell me yours?" you patiently waited for her response, but she doesn't seem to want to. You sighed at the attempt, but it has come to this that both of you have been put in this situation where she has a problem and you...

... although you are not her friend, you felt obligated to act as one for her. She is still your classmate and one of the people you see every day. It doesn't feel right to see them bothered by something you don't understand. Even you receive dislike to them, it wasn't effective enough still to prevent you from helping them once they had some trouble. You still have faith in them, knowing that not all of them were evil when it came to you.They were either manipulated or made negative assumptions about you. Returning to the situation, you preceded the flow of your choice. Jeongyeon turns her head to see if you're doing anything other than standing next to her. She expected you to stop asking her questions, but what she saw pointing near her face surprised her. You extended your free hand to her. Jeongyeon furrowed her brows as she looked at you. You just mentally sent her a message to accept it as your genuine offer of assistance, nodding your head with a thin smile. She just stared at you for a few seconds before giving up and reaching for your hand, which you gently grabbed and helped her stand up from the grassy ground.

"Mind if we take a seat?" you asked, referring to the bench next to another tree in this area. She only nodded slightly, her head slightly lowered as she followed you from behind.

You let her sit first before you joined. Jeongyeon noticed your lunch tray, which is now on your lap. "You were telling the truth," she thought.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to make you envious or hungry; as I said, I always take my lunch here," you said shyly after scooping up one rice cake. She remained deafeningly silent. What you're doing has no effect on her, actually.

She's not that hungry anyway, and she suspects she can't feel it because her mind is too preoccupied right now that distracts her irritatingly.

"I know we're not close enough for you to share what's gotten into you that made you do this... and I respect that," you began. Jeongyeon wasn't looking at you, but her ears were trained on you as you began speaking again, this time with words that are meant for her.

"But I just want to say that whatever it is, don't let it consume you; heavy or not, it deserves to vanish... and one way to do so is to ask for anyone's help," you continued as kept listening to you.

"It doesn't mean it's your problem, you have to face it alone. No, you deserve help. It could be a friend or a stranger, as long as it has good intentions. There, you can easily solve it with that someone." Jeongyeon finally looked at you after you finished speaking.

It truly impressed her and made her think twice about how you tried to comfort her without knowing any hints about her problem. She strongly agreed with what you said.

You were right, everyone deserves a help...and right now, the only person she can search for and trust to share her problem is none other than her classmate which is you with whom she just had her first conversation, currently sitting beside her and eating his lunch.

She heaved out a sigh before beginning to spill her troubles to you as what she decided to.

"Fine, I'll tell you, but this better should only be between us, you understand?" she finally said. You shifted your gaze to see her solemn expression as she awaited your confirmation.

"You have my word," you assuredly nodded. Jeongyeon felt at ease. She looked down at her hands, which were clenched around the hem of her dress, as she began to tell you about her problem.

"Earlier, I... I went to the third stairway, which is where I'm supposed to meet the g-guy who's courting me," she said.. You let out a silent "oh" as she revealed that it was about love, as you had predicted immediately based on your probabilities. Perks of being a math genius, you kidding to yourself.

"He's from another section. I'm not in love with him so far it's just... he made me interested for him so I agreed to his request for us to meet.", she continued. "When I arrived there after the bell rang, I didn't expected that I'll see him..", she paused for a moment.

".... I'll see him kissing another schoolgirl at the locker.", she started sniffing and hiccuping at her tears as she covered her face with her hands. "Based o-on his m-moves... he-he does look l-like he's having f-fun."

"I-I mean... you weren't g-going to pin s-someone you're k-kissing and m-mirror her if y-you weren't feeling it," Jeongyeon said in a muffled tone. You agreed to her, but she's making a point. It does justify what caused her to react in this like this.

"I get it, you're right.", you said. "I'm sorry to hear that. Being played and fooled truly does suck, isn't it.", Jeongyeon nodded aggressively. You got exactly what she felt when she saw that horrible sight.

"I suggest you just move on quickly like he does. Remember, you didn't like him yet, and his love for you isn't real at all. Why waste your tears for someone who's just deceiving you? Most importantly, why let your entire mood be ruined by someone who doesn't even care at all for you?" you advised her. Jeongyeon paid close attention to you as you consoled her.

Not only she can audibly hear it, but she also felt it when you slowly patted her back.

"Let it all out, Jeongyeon. I know it hurts, but it can't go on any longer. You don't deserve this. Every woman in the world doesn't deserve to have their hearts played and brag about their beauty as if they won a trophy for their collection of achievements." Jeongyeon's sobs became lower as she slowed down her cries.

You were a good companion, she thought.

She did needed this. It felt like as if she felt lighter once you started giving her advices regarding to her problem.

What she liked the most at what you've done for her today was that, everything you just said was very touching and uplifting. You said nothing but facts.

She guessed that she had made the wise choice not to judge and speculate unfavorably about you, unlike everyone else on campus. You weren't as bad as everyone expected you to be.

Your choice of words made Jeongyeon assured that if there's a girl that you successfully stole her heart someday, she will be so lucky to have you.

"We use love to make someone feel respected and important, compatible to get attached with another person. If their intentions weren't dedicated and serious like these, then it's not love at all, Jeongyeon.", you faintly smiled at her, ending your comforting speech.

You stood up from your seat and left your tray laying beside her. "You must eat, just use my fork.", you said as you pointed at your lunch that still has some amount enough for Jeongyeon to intake. Good thing you used your personal chopstick with you because you are much experienced and comfortable using this. She looked at your lunch, following your gesture. Before you walk back to the classroom, you rotated your body around. "Oh and one last thing...", Jeongyeon looked at you with curiousity.

"... hope you'll be okay.", you smiled sweetly. You walked away, leaving Jeongyeon alone without minding whether she'll accept your food or not. All you care about was that you've fulfilled your role to be her acquaintance for today and you helped her.

Meanwhile, Jeongyeon remained speechless as she watched you leave. She was undoubtedly taken aback by your warm and friendly personality. She looked at your lunch beside her that you reserved for her. A smile appeared on her face as she reached for your tray and started eating the rest of it while wiping her tear stained face with a towel.

THE NEXT DAY

You are reading a book in the library to do some advance learning for your Gender and Society subject tomorrow since you don't have anything else to do so far and you feel energized to study.

You were taking notes in your notebook when you noticed a vacant chair in front of you being pulled. You looked up, and to your surprise, it was Jeongyeon smiling placidly, who had brought her own chosen books, and placed them on your table.

She sat down and leaned her bag against the foot of the table. You both noticed that every student in the library gathered their attention to you and Jeongyeon.

You gulped nervously and you looked at Jeongyeon. "Uhh, why did you sat here Jeongyeon?"

"You were intimated by them?" she asked, raising her eyebrow at you and showing it to the others, allowing them to witness Jeongyeon's sassiness unbothered by their presence. "Forget them, I don't care and you should too.", she scoffed.

"Anyway, hello." She narrowed the gap between her arms, her head pursing slightly forward to you. Her expression softened from sharp to pleasant. You were taken aback by how swiftly she changed her demeanor.

"Uhh... hello?" you awkwardly greeted her before returning to your book. "Is there anything I can help you with?"

"There is, yes," she said, nodding. She tapped the table with her fingers at the same time. "We have this particular Calculus lesson that I couldn't understand at all no matter how many times I tried to review it on my own; I even watched tutorials on YouTube and searched it on Google but none of it worked," she sighed tiredly.

"So... I was thinking if... you could uhh help me?", she shyly requested. You pulled back your head upwards, meeting her looking at you with her teeth clenching sheepishly. She was absolutely adorable, you thought.

"You're the best in math in our class. Our professor likes your intelligence. You're our section's secret weapon in academic competitions," she enumerated her reasons why she chose to approach you with her concern. "In short, you are a genius, YN, so yeah... that's why," you remained quiet as you kept on flipping the page of the book while searching for the next topic you had to take note.

"By the way... it worked," she added. You looked at her, pausing what you were doing as she got your attention back to her.

"It did?" you asked surprisingly.

"Yeah. I stopped giving a damn about him after processing it throughly what you said to me yesterday. Earlier, when we met at the hallway... I just ignored him.", she shrugged. "You were right. He doesn't care. He didn't even called my name back and find it suspicious that I'm distancing myself away from him", she sighed.

You were relieved that you had completed your task for her. That is what is important to you.

"Thank you, YN," she said gratefully. "For being by my side yesterday." You returned her polite expression, appreciating her remark as well.

"No worries, Jeongyeon.", you assured.

"Can we be friends, YN?", she asked you which made you bewildered. Did you just saw and heard the most famous female student of the entire year level in this campus offer her friendship to a... nobody like you?

"Excuse me?"

"You must be shocked, I see.", she chuckled. "It was too sudden. Sorry. But as what I mentioned earlier, if you may be aware and concerned about everyone looking at you differently, just ignore them YN."

"For me, you are just the same as us... and you proved that to me when you chose to help me even though I didn't asked for it, because you knew it clearly that even if I didn't... I still needed it.", she said.

Her wise words to you made you happy and touched you. It was very rare of you to hear this from someone and you never thought you'll receive like this ever.

But Jeongyeon appeared to have accomplished the impossible.

"What is it gonna be, YN?", she waited for your response anticipatingly. You scratched your nape and chuckled at how unbelievable that this is happening.

"Yes, Jeongyeon. I want to be your friend.", you smiled, accepting it unhesitatingly. "And also, yes. I can help you in math.", you smirked. Both of you laughed as each other exchanged thank you's before moving on to start a new conversation with her as you first and new found true friend in college.

2 DAYS LATER

The exam was administered to the class today. You spent the rest of those time tutoring Jeongyeon in that specific lesson she's struggling to intepret. But, being the generous guy you are; you decided to just include the rest of the other lessons and review it with her.

Following the formation of your friendship bond with Jeongyeon, both of you began to meet frequently every day everyday in and out of the school.

In your perspective, Jeongyeon is excellent. She's nice, easy to get along with, and her sense of humor was... witty, which is fine with you because you don't think you're that fun either but Jeongyeon was surprisingly laughing at your jokes too.

Overall, her personality is superb and that flawlessly adds to her admirable features. It's difficult for you to get astounded anymore that she's being setting everyone's eyes on her.

However, your friendship with Jeongyeon had a downside. Since she had to join you to teach her and review with her for the exams, she lost time with her friends who she had planned to spend with when the teachers informed the students to prepare for the exams.

And, yes, they did find another reason to despise you. Fortunately, Jeongyeon was by your side to defend you, but you didn't let her do all the work; you tried to stand up for yourself.

As of now, the only thing you know so far was that Jeongyeon's friends were sulking and disappointed that she was spending more time with you than with them. But you can't blame them.

The results were already distributed and it's just a typical moment for you to achieve a high score. It's not that you're bragging about it but even you also knows clearly to yourself that you are smart to deserve getting these grades.

What took you aback was the fact that Jeongyeon was included among the students who received a passing grade. When your classmates, including some of her friends, cheered when your professor called her name, she immediately looked at you with that lively smile, a sign that she thanked you for helping her in obtaining this.

She did shared it out loud to you more when she planned that as an exchange, she'll treat you everywhere after the class.

You tried to decline as a cause of your shyness but Jeongyeon will not accept a no answer from you. Retreating, you just followed her and let her walk it like she talk it.

Before you and her were about to head outside the gate of the school, a group of girls shouted Jeongyeon's name from behind. That made both of you turn your attention to whoever owned that voices.

There, you viewed Jeongyeon's friends from their group. If you are not mistaken, they are Minatozaki Sana and Park Jihyo from Class B and Chou Tzuyu, your fellow classmate too from Class A like Jeongyeon.

"Oh girls. Hey!", Jeongyeon greeted her friends.

"You're with him again?" Sana asked, disbelievingly pointing at you.

"We were about to invite you to join us today for a visit to the newly opened fashion store in Jung-gu," Jihyo followed.

"But it looks like you are going out with him unnie. What is it now this time?", Tzuyu irritatingly asked as she gave you a spiteful glare that had you stare away from the evil maknae.

"Girls, can all of you calm down? What did I told you all last time. YN is now my friend too.", Jeongyeon replied, her voice raised a bit.

You just looked aside at her while she's focused arguing at her friends.

"So I hope this is the last time we have to deal with this; now, if you'll excuse and do us a favor, can you three tell the rest that I promise I'll join you guys next time to catch up with all of you?" begged Jeongyeon. Tzuyu, Sana, and Jihyo exchanged glances, amazed at how good-hearted their friend is.

"Get used to the fact that YN will always be around me or maybe us soon, trust me; if I hadn't discovered how great he is... then why would I choose to stood confidently right next to him, facing you guys today and engaged to accompany him?" she finished before pulling your hand with her as you both ran outside the school and rode her family car.

Jeongyeon instructed her driver to transport you and her to the nearest mall in Seoul. Her personal driver complied and 20 minutes later, he dropped both of you at the rendezvous.

She allowed the driver to tour around by himself to spend his time while waiting which she'll just contact him if you and her would need him back again. The driver thanked Jeongyeon before leaving away, leaving both of you to enter the mall.

Jeongyeon started to take the lead on shopping for you where she lived up to what she sweared, she gave you appreciation gifts which was for you... it's overwhelming.

Visiting a clothing store, she bought you new pair of clothes and shorts, two of each. You spent more time with Jeongyeon exploring the massive mall, such as playing in the arcade where both of you are somewhat skilled at every game, watching the new Black Panther: Wakanda Forever movie with her after discovering that both of you are Marvel fans, and eating at various restaurants and food booths.

At the roof garden of the mall where both decided to rest, you and her were sitting in one of the stone chairs. The perfect view of Seoul, the dazzling nightsky and cold breeze of air splashing onto your skins.

Both were silent, too much concentrated on the magnificent nightview until something came up in your mind that you can't help but to slide it out from your mouth.

"Your friends were right a while ago," you said out of nowhere. Jeongyeon examined you, perplexed by what you had just said out of the blue.

"I still don't quite understand why do you need to give such effort repaying me although you know that doing my responsibility for you as a friend was fine to me.", you said while eyes still fixed forward as you speak out your thoughts.

"Because I wanted it, okay?" insisted Jeongyeon. "This is one of the better ways I can think of to express myself that I want to strengthen our connection and that I'm not just the receiver here and you as the giver," she said, pointing to you and herself with her hand.

"Just... accept it and don't overthink about it, please YN. Don't you want to be with me today?" she asked you quzzically. You transitioned your gaze to Jeongyeon and noticed her small frown, which made you nervous.

"Because I do," she pouted. You smiled cheekily, pleased that she does.

"N-no... of course, Jeongyeon, I want to be with you," you said. Jeongyeon's frown effectively curled back up into a smile. "You're my friend, and what better way to spend the weekend than having fun with you?"

"I've never experienced anything like this before... that's why I can't say no," you painfully smiled. Jeongyeon looked at you worriedly, feeling pity once more because she can't imagine how bland and boring of a childhood you have if you never had any friends nor siblings to treat like one.

"Thank you for all of these, Jeongyeon."

"You're welcome.", she grinned.

The two were interrupted when fireworks began to explode in the sky, creating a rainbow of colors that catches the attention of the public, including you and Jeongyeon.

The fountain behind you two also contributed the display as it blew and splashed out huge amount of water combined by multiple lightning struck withing it to add design and colors.

Now everyone were watching either the fireworks and the fountain show.

As you kept on watching with a wide grin in your face, Jeongyeon unconsciously turned her head to you and her lips narrowed their gaps together as it formed a long smile when she saw your attractive side-profile.

Then she felt this again that had her wondering about since days ago when you kept on praising her for doing a great job answering all of your made-up tests for her perfectly during your review with her for the exams.

Her heart beat started banging directly in her rib cage and her chest intensely as she became speechless and stunned.

Back at the clothing store where you basically tried on the clothes you chose for Jeongyeon to pay for, you exit the fitting room and let her judge how you look.

And boy oh boy Jeongyeon didn't said it out right away but she was undoubtedly complimenting you on how handsome you really are, especially when you removed your glasses.

She removed her gaze away from you and lowered her head as she gulped, unknowingly large red tints in her cheeks were forming mainly due to the effects of your image roaming in her mind.

1 MONTH LATER

It was graduation day, and you were in your fourth year of college, just like Jeongyeon. Both you and her passed and received an award, with you being in the spotlight as a Magna Cum Laude achiever that have every crowd applauded for you.

After the event ended, you tried to find Jeongyeon inside the auditorium to congratulate her but to no avail. Puzzled, you continued searching for her until you found her talking with... a guy.

Jeongyeon doesn't seemed to be entertained at all while the guy seems like they're serious at their conversation.

She started shaking her head as if she's declining something and the more she does it, the guy becoming infuriated at how Jeongyeon is acting towards him.

In a matter of seconds, what happened next had your fists clenched and and blood boil.

The guy completely went over the limit as he grabbed Jeongyeon's arm forcefully and pulled her with him aggressively, with her wincing in pain and attempting to escape but she kept on failing.

"No, wh-who was he to do this...", you murmured to yourself as you horribly watched the sight of Jeongyeon being abused by this mysterious person.

You saw her 8 other girls appearing at the scene shouting her name and this dude who revealed to be Cheongsan as they plead for him to stop hurting her. It all fell into deaf ears as he still dragged Jeongyeon with her outside the campus.

The guards intervened to block him, but Cheongsan pulled out a gun pointing at them to scare them off. People began panicking and yelling in fear. You knew it already that he's gonna do something bad to Jeongyeon and as her friend, you can't just let it happen no matter what circumstances it might be.

Right now, Jeongyeon needs help... and it has to be you that you think the only one around here that has the guts to confront and save Jeongyeon from this maniac.

You ran quickly and everyone saw you, surprised that someone is about to risk it all and face the dangerous consequence as when they were about to cross the road, Cheongsan rotates his head after he got confused why is everyone screaming once again.

He then realised you charging at him, sending your bodies crashing to the road. The guards acted quickly, kicking the gun away just as Cheongsan was about to reach for it. He then tried to grab Jeongyeon again, but due to his slightly damaged state, she was able to break free, only to be met with a massive backslap to the face just as you were about to execute a spear straight to his stomach, his back landed first onto the cemented ground. The guards apprehended Cheongsan and called the cops to arrest him, but first they had him arrested and kept in their guardhouse. You immediately led Jeongyeon who fell to the ground due to the impact of Cheongsam's offense to the other sidewalk and checked her immediately.

"Are you okay?", you asked concerningly as you started searching around the exposed skin of her arms and knees if there may be a glimpse of wounds and bruises. There was a red mark imprinted from Cheongsan's tight grip in her wrist though.

"Does it hurt?", you asked. Jeongyeon shook her head. "A little. It stings.", she said as she blew some air to ease the effect after you gently touched it.

"Who was he?"

"Some asshole who tried to take advantage of me before," she spit nastily. "One of the guys I rejected became obsessed with me and forced me to accept his feelings for me, and when I did it again for the second time, he didn't allow it anymore and just forced me to come with him," she explained.

"Thank you for saving me, YN," she said as she hugged you, tears welling up in her eyes. "I was afraid..."

"Don't worry, Jeongyeon. I have to do it. Nobody must hurt you and if they attempt to, you have me here to protect just like what I did.", you said as you comforted and ease off her frightened state.

Jeongyeon saw her parents and friends through the other sidewalk in front of the campus gate, relieved and happy that their daughter was safe.

She was about to ran and cross the road when you noticed that a speeding car was about to head towards her. Her reaction time was late for her to be aware unlike you.

"JEONGYEON, MOVE!!!", you rushed through her and pushed her away to the sidewalk where her parents and friends standing and waiting for her as they were also got terrified that Jeongyeon was about to get crashed by the car.

But instead, it got you.

The only thing you remember after that is blacking out and waking up in a hospital room wearing a white gown with your left arm and leg bandaged and supported by a brace.

Your head and vision felt like the entire room was spinning as you became dizzy for a brief seconds before it slowly faded away, just as a womanly figure appeared in front of your face.

She enclosed her upper body around yours in preparation for a hug. You could feel her tears on your sleeve. You can now see Jeongyeon crying in your arms as your eyesight has enhanced.

"You're finally awake, YN!", she said. "God, I was so worried of you. I thought that accident could take your life away."

She removed herself away from you as she looked at you nervously. "D-do you still remember me... YN?"

"As far as I know, Yoo Jeongyeon, I could still recognize you." you said, faintly smiling. Jeongyeon exhaled a sigh of relief. "But what happened to me was totally blank to me."

"You got bumped into a car, YN.", she said. "You had to be taken here in the hospital because that bump you took was very critical. All of us screamed in terror when we watched you flew away from the impact.", she stated as she began to summarize what brought you here hospitalized in a broken condition.

"The doctors informed us that you had bruised ribs and fractured arm and leg," she said as she examined your sealed damaged body parts. "I know dealing with it will be difficult, but YN... we'd rather do it for you than witness you-"

"Enough of it, Jeongyeon.", you said, cutting her off. She shut her mouth instantly, nervous that you might became angry but when you spoke next made her thoughts false.

"When am I getting out of here?"

"I suppose one and a half to two months?" she answered. It was pretty long but you knew time just runs fast you won't even gonna notice that soon it will be over so you just became fine with it.

"How long have you been here?"

"Three days," she said, bowing her head. "Every day, I come to see you and wait for you to wake up. The guilt was attacking me, YN. I know I'm to blame for you being involved in an accident, and I shouldn't have r-"

"Jeongyeon, please. Calm down.", you said as you signalled her. She broke down again into tears and you motioned her to come near at you and she did. You gently rubbed her shoulders to comfort her.

"Why are you blaming yourself? Stop it, it wasn't your fault; the driver of that car knows it's a school zone, and whoever he is didn't follow the street rules that he shouldn't drive that fast,"

"I just lured you away from it and I'm glad that I did. I saved you and you're still here breathing alive and well.", you smiled. Jeongyeon just looked at you unbelievably at how selfless you were. "That's what matters to me and now I that knew about it, I can use it for a speedy recovery, you know?, you chuckled.

Jeongyeon amusingly slapped your arm whuch you whimpered in a slight prick of pain you felt. She apologized immediately but you just disregarded it, since it wasn't that serious.

"I missed you.", she softly said. You grinned from ear to ear. "

"I missed you too, Jeongyeon.

1 MONTH AND 3 WEEKS LATER

Jeongyeon assisted you to stand up from the hospital bed as you decided to stand at the window and feel the cold air fron the outside. It's been pretty exhausting and unsatisfying to have yourself confined in here for that span of time because of your injuries.

The recovery began after you woke up and Jeongyeon was mostly there to support you as she guarded you 24/7 to ensure that you're doing well.

During your healing process, you also received some visits from your parents which was shocking to you because you thought they never cared for you at all.

Jeongyeon's parents also came to convey their heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for saving Jeongyeon not once, but twice in the same morning.

Even her eight other friends came to see you and sent their best wishes and warm messages for what you've done for Jeongyeon and for your current rest.

They apologized for being harsh towards you and expressed their regrets and anger for theirselves on being too much blinded by hate on you.

You just simply accepted them and made official peace with them because both sides desired it.

Leaning at the window with curtains tied up to avoid being swayed too much by the wind, you and Jeongyeon standing side by side as the structures and bright afternoon skylight presented in front of you two.

"Thank you for taking care of me and assisting me in overcoming these hardships I had to face during my recovery, Jeongyeon," you said.

"For you, I had to. It wasn't a burden to me.,", Jeongyeon said, smiling at your touching comment. Both went silent as you continued to look afar outside.

Jeongyeon on the other hand, was preparing herself to do what she planned in mind since she had to guard you for the first day.

She sighed as she aligned her face straight and leveled to your view direction. "YN, do you believe in miracles?", she asked.

"I do... even if I haven't experienced one.", you

"What would you feel if you had it today?"

"Surreal.", you simply replied. "How about you?"

"Same as you too.", she agreed. "And I just had a recent one."

"Really?"

"Yeah.", she nodded. "Since you're involved with this, should I tell you about it?"

"Feel free", you granted her permission.

"Mine's the one you created, YN.", she said.

"Me? What is it that I created?", you were baffled about it.

"The feelings inside my heart I can't explain.", she revealed. You turned your head at her as you heard those words that it sounded as if it meant something more.

"And you did it by yourself. I am not that easy to get but with you... you did the unimaginable.", she said. "You made me fell in love for you.", she confessed. Your eyes widened in disbelief, jaw dropped in shock at what you just learned from Jeongyeon.

You were immensely mindblown at the sudden confession from your friend whom you never thought that she'll turn out once a moment into a forever.

"What?", you were out of words already. You don't even know what to say next even though there's so many questions running through your mind.

"W-why me? Jeongyeon? Out of everyone else out there, why me?", you confusingly asked the girl who is just watching you as you tried to process everything. Breaths running in your throat became shaky along with your mind. "Why would you let yourself fall for a weirdo like me? A joke and a nobody compared to other men out there who could be suitable for you?"

"Whatever qualifications you could find and believe in, do you think that what makes a man?", she asked. "No. It's not. You are the prime example of what kind of a man I prefer, YN.", she pointed at you. She grabbed both of your hands and both watched her fingers caressing the softness of your skin and her touch.

"All of their priorities when it comes to me was nothing but my background and my outside features. Yet you focused right ahead more through my heart and how vulnerable I am. You treated me good as a pure woman who deserves to experience it especially when she's searching for the rightful man to love.", she locked both pair of your hands as squeezed it together with her own.

"When we first met at the back of the building, you don't know how highly impressed I am when you called my bluff and saw through all my tells. Then you went all in and you started unhesistantly helped me which made us left together all too well."

She swayed your hair blocking off those eyes that she always loved to get hypnotized with. "It all started there, YN. Those golden traits and personality of yours that you kept on showing to me the more time has passed leveled up how exactly you look for me.", her hand went lower, now in front of your cheek as she cupped it.

You gulped nervously as you just followed her movements and continued listening to her.

"I've been played before, went through men who tried to steal my heart but nobody took it all seriously. I wasn't supposed to give chances anymore but... I fear that right now, you happened to be someone I'm about to risk it all again."

"I think it's safe to say and to top it all off that I love you, YN.", she said to you wholeheartedly, smiling sweetly at you. Your tears started to form in your eyes and she noticed.

She nodded understandably at you because she knew that you would feel emotional about it knowing that this might be the first time that someone opened up how they cherish you in their life.

She rubbed your shoulder while holding your waist when she saw you starting to stumble and hop a little in your position, getting unbalanced at your stance.

"Let it all out, YN. I'll listen to you, just say what you want to say.", she encouraged. You nodded while she's comforting you.

"I was scared, Jeongyeon.", you started. "I have this fears that became a blockage for me on so many reasons. One of them was to love."

"My self-esteem was very low since when I was a child. Everyone bullies me, bravely reminding how pathetic I am. I wished that atleast my parents could help me but they didn't. All I got from them was verbal abuse.", you shared as you gained some flashbacks of your mother and father always jokingly telling you how ugly you are in every angle which they don't realize already that they're getting very offensive at their words.

You hated it at first but you didn't have the courage to tell them how it affects you because you are scared that they'll just scold you instead for being disrespectful. Now... you are completely numb at it.

Nothing serves as a knife that pierces in your heart for you to feel pain because they made you insecure and despise yourself the same as them.

You took it as a truth and lived up with it.

"I'm bringing it with me up to this day. It did served as a barrier for many reasons. One of it was to love... and I'm currently struggling with it."

"Despite of that, I still feel and develop deep strong feelings of admiration for anyone and as far as I could tell... it's you Jeongyeon I'm capable into these days gone coming by.", you said. Jeongyeon was bewildered and froze at your own confession too. Mixed of emotions full of positivity filling up inside her.

She didn't know that you were also starting to adore her silently the more times you spent being near with her. She's just irresistable not to fell in love with.

Everything she does were shots fired through your heart and it suffered enough to the point that it conceded defeat and chose that Jeongyeon had to make you feel this way.

The only problem here is your fears that's preventing you to look at the bright side and stuck you onto the same old usual opposite.

"But I kept it a secret because, like I said, I just thought you wouldn't like somebody like me ever," you sniffed through your tears as you started to bawl your eyes out in sobs as teardrops raced pouring down in your cheeks.

Jeongyeon encircled her arms around your neck and locked her gaze on you. "I'm sorry that you had to go through every of this in a rough way.", she apologetically said.

She can't imagine how worst your entire childhood where your long time trauma kept on haunting you and started to disillusion you and make convince you of a lie.

"Rest assured, YN. My love for you was true and I trust you with all my heart. All I ask for you is to do the same thing for me and I will do anything to loosen your insecurities and shed a light on your darkness.", she assured you. Both you and her were still crying at this scenario.

"Don't make it hard for yourself when it comes to me anymore, YN. We both now know that we love each other mutually,  there's only one thing we need to do about it."

She leaned her face close to you, placing her lips to connect at your to elicit a soft, delightful and delicate kiss with each other. You joined her rhythm as you went all subdued and enchanted already by her luscious contact of a love gesture to you.

Separating each other from that fluffy, magnificent and romantic moment you two shared, both exchanged I love yous to each other and engulfed again to another warm embrace, feeling thankful and happy with this new established relationship together.

BACK TO PRESENT DAY / 10 YEARS LATER

After you've done reminiscing those memories with Jeongyeon you made while having this glasses with you before, you looked next to your hand you're using to hold.

A perfect small shining wedding ring inserted in your finger.

You smiled broadly when you realized that the same woman you once loved was also wearing this.

Your relationship with Jeongyeon prompted your parents to apologize for the mistake they made with you, which skewed your perspective on yourself.

Jeongyeon planned this, and while you were surprised, you chose to forgive your parents because it's never too late to let anyone realize their wrongdoings and solemnly beg forgiveness.

Both you and Jeongyeon's parents also gave their blessings for your relationship with her. That was where you discovered why Jeongyeon has this such awesome personality, and that was all came from her parents.

Having Jeongyeon as your girlfriend lasted for 3 years until you finally decided to propose to her which... she answered yes straIght away. You had your wedding together after, and there was many people who visited to witness the newlyweds get married; including Jeongyeon's friends which became yours too.

You glanced at the individual photo of Jeongyeon at the top of your desk and smiled blissfully at how beautiful she is here in this picture. She looked just like an angel who came to your life and changed everything for the better.

Your thoughts ended when you heard the door of your house opened. Couple of footsteps can be heard from outside so you got out quickly from the bedroom to see them.

You stood and looked at your small lovely family as the hardworking father who works as a licensed architect these days. Your lovely wife, Jeongyeon, is dressed casually, and your daughter, Gaeul, is dressed in her school uniform and has just gotten freshly out of class. "Good afternoon, dad!" exclaimed your eight-year-old daughter, engulfing you in a hug.

"Good afternoon too! How's class sweetie?"

"We had a lot of fun; we played instruments at school during our music class!" she exclaimed. Your gaze moved to Jeongyeon, who was stunned and staring at you when she saw something noticeable with you.

"I was cleaning in our room and yeah... I accidentally found this," you said, pinching the temple of your old glasses, which you only realized you wore instead of your new and improved ones after looking at your wife's wedding photo.

You were about to remove it when Jeongyeon stepped in front of you and grabbed your hand. Your wife smiled brightly as she assisted you in bringing it back up to your eyes and rearranged some strands of your hair before pinching your cheek.

"No. Keep it.", she said as she observed this familiar appearance that started all all of this journey you had with her. "Even after all these years, it still looks so good on you.", she muttered, tracing your face admiringly.

You grabbed Jeongyeon's hand touching your face and kissed the sides of it. "It's a crazy thing that I didn't know back then when I showed you my hand and you still let me win after being too arrogant just to help you which would turn out to that it was meant to be for us."

"You've fallen for a genius yet a joke and an odd guy like me when I knew you could fall for a thousand men who depicts like a king more than me.", you said as you stared at Jeongyeon.

"Hey, are you thinking down of yourself again?", her forehead crumpled and lips pursed in a pout as she sulked. You chuckled and quickly swayed your head in denial. "I don't care at any of them, YN. Okay? Neither do I wished to live like that in the future."

"What I wanted is this... and you showed and provided me everything I desired for. Sure, you may be a joke unlike every men out there but you did it effortlessly to replace them and steal my heart away in one take.", she said.

"When you were folded, I instead see the best of you, YN.", she raised your hand where she interconnected each other's wedding rings to one another's fingers, you cracked a forced smile as you fight your emotions not to overflow but they were too strong just like how Jeongyeon's words of affections giving you.

"Now look at us, it's the joker and the queen living happily ever after who both found their worths and you won the place not even intended for you but proved that not just a king would be rightful for a throne with me.", she finished her heartwarming message to you foowed up by the usual passionate kiss you two give to each other as one of the signs to show how much you love one another. "I will never ever regret that decision, YN."

"Thank you for loving me, Jeongyeon. I love you and for my queen, I'll be there to serve, protect and lay all on the line for you."

"I love you too, YN and for my joker, I'll be there on your side to share laughters and spread happiness with you."

You each gave another peck of a kiss and just about the same time, you both heard your daughter being frantic and panicking that raised your curiousity.

"Sweetie, what's wrong?", Jeongyeon asked Gaeul who is walking back and forth in the living room.

"Mom, I-I think I left my ukelele at the school...", she said with a horrified expression. Both you and Jeongyeon had each other's mouth agaped.

"Oh no. Wait, don't worry dear. We will find-", before you were about to finish your words all three of you directed their sight at the door whereas the doorbell rang because of some unknown person outside of it.

You opened it and to your surprise, it was a little boy with large eyeglasses, hair perfectly fixed, his collar also buttoned together as he still wearing a school uniform that looks the same like your daughters.

He reminded you of your past self so much. His style was almost as accurate like what you used to be before.

"May I help you kid?"

"Hi Mr. LN, is Gaeul arrived home already?", the little boy asked you who seemed to be your daughter's classmate or friend. You inspected that he was bringing something with him other than his bag.

"I was about to give this ukelele back to her after I noticed she left it in the class, Mr. YN. I chased but she and Mrs. LN already left.", he explained. You smiled at how kind and honest of a kid he is.

Unbeknownst to you, Gaeul was peeking to the door beside you. She saw her classmate standing and talking with you while bringing her personalized ukelele with him.

"SUNGHOON!", she yelled in glee. The boy's smile widened to see your daughter.

"You found my ukelele?"

"Yes. I was the last one who left the classroom after I helped our teacher bring her things to her office then I saw your ukelele under your chair.", he narrated. "So... here, you can have it now."

Jeongyeon stood behind you and both witnessed your daughter rushed to hug this kid named Sunghoon in front of you.

After they bid goodbyes to each other and Gaeul looking flushed as she cuddle her favorite instrument with her, Jeongyeon giggled and whispered "They're cute." to your ear before she thanked Sunghoon.

As they returned inside, you saw Sunghoon also clenching his lips tightly to form a smile while his face blushing hard mainly because of his interaction and contact with your little girl.

You smirked as you already had it guessed the possibility of them acting like this because you knew you've been there before.

"Hey kid.", you called him. He raised his head back up to look at you.

"Y-yes sir?"

"Continue what you're doing.", you winked ans clicked your tongue before you thanked him too and wished Sunghoon a safe way home.

You closed the door and reconcile with your small happy family at the couch together to take arest with your arms spread apart, one to your beautiful wife Jeongyeon and one to your adorable and bright daughter Gaeul.

----------END----------

"I was looking for you there, thought you joined the staffs," she said as she sneakily reached into your bag for some chips.

It wasn't a big deal to you, so you let her do it, even if you thought it was funny that she started a conversation just to take some junkfood from you instead of politely asking for some.

"As much as I'd like to, I kind of prefer relaxing here by myself instead," you said; shrugging your shoulders.

"So... does that mean I'm disturbing you?" she asked, raising an eyebrow and looking at you; slightly embarrassed.

In denial, you shook your head and hands at the same time. "No, I didn't mean it that way," you clarified. "Just wanted to get away from the crowded noise for a while; found it more relaxing and less distracting, you know." Nayeon just nodded and hummed in satisfaction, understanding your explanation.

"Can't argue with that," she said.

You both went silent for a moment, eating some more chips as the muffled combined sounds of the park could only be heard around you two.

"Today's filming has finally wrapped," you said again, introducing a new topic to discuss with Nayeon about which she relate so well. "Congratulations on yet another success, Nayeon; I hope the MV turns out great," you said, smiling.

"It will, we did our roles so well YN," Nayeon said, confident in her tone, but the next words she's about to say slowed down unnervingly.

"All I'm hoping for is that ONCEs will like it and be satisfied," she sighed, smiling in anticipation.

She looked at you and nudged your shoulder, turning your gaze to her from the chip you've been busy devouring. "Hey, I can't be the only one who'll be receiving gratitude here.", She said after she sensed the unfairness that got her eyes lit up in realization. "Thank you by the way too, especially for accepting my request for you to join me on this one."

"Truly honored to be honest," you said, exuding humbleness. You even taunted Nayeon with a bow, lowering your head and placing your left hand on your torso, making Nayeon chuckle at your silliness. "To be a part of a solo debut by one of the members of one of the greatest girl groups ever to exist in the K-Pop industry, and not to mention, the one who singlehandedly chose me as her own pick is just something unbelievable to think," you said in amazement.

"Good luck with the promotions, Nayeon," you said, your mouth curving into a smile.

"Wow, the praise," Nayeon was touched, placing her hand on her chest to signify what she felt. "But again, thank you so much YN. If it wasn't for you too, my plans of wanting this album to be more worth listening will not happen."

"With all pleasure.", you smiled, delighted at Nayeon's additional heartwarming message for your contribution to her.

They went into complete silence once again for a moment as both of you focused on emptying the bag of chips. As you took the last remaining piece, Nayeon remembered something but no signs of surprise or shock can been seen in her expression since she knew that it would come to this already.

"You say the MV shooting is done today right?", Nayeon asked, but her face remained unquestionable.

"Yeah."

"And preparations for my solo album ends here.", she added, pointing her fingers down in motion.

"Oh... right.", you nodded. Both are now staring at one another, you gulped nervously as Nayeon began to looked at you intently. That stare right there simply reminded you already of what should happen between you and her.

"You know what that means, right?", she smirked. "Deadline has been reached. Time's running out, YN.", she pointed at her wrist like she was wearing a watch.

" It's been a week, I can get your answer now.", Nayeon began to lean herself closer than you as she waits for what you're about to respond.

Receiving again those eyes that won and made you surrendered in a not-so-hard way, your lips pressed altogether; tensely readied yourself to reveal what you got as you started to get flashbacks of everything what happened in 1 week that led both of you in this situation.

1 WEEK AGO (MONDAY)

The preparation for Nayeon's b-side song started. Originally, it doesn't have any plans to gain more activities as the company decided only that Nayeon will focus on her lead track as usual, just like her group's comebacks.

But, thankfully, they were generous enough to reconsider when she requested that this debut be more special and as a gift for ONCEs who waited many years to have someone from TWICE debut a solo project by making two music videos for her solo album, and the track that she chose is her own written b-side where she decided to collaborate with a fellow famous K-Pop female soloist; which is none other than you: (your stage name if you are a K-Pop idol)

When you first arrived at the JYP Entertainment building, you asked the receptionist where the recording studio #2 is, to which you are scheduled to meet up with Nayeon for the recording of her song. The lady receptionist directed you politely and you thanked her before you went on to look for it.

Reaching the 4th level of the building, you walked down the hallway until you found the door with the name of your meeting place imprinted on it. You knocked three times before the vocal coach opened the door.

Recognizing you immediately, she let you in as you greeted everyone inside, including the woman sitting with them with whom you'll be working the most.

TWICE's Im Nayeon, the center and a member of the nation's girl group, which is regarded as one of the best that ever existed in the entire K-Pop industry.

You two exchanged a shy greeting when you finally met face to face. The vocal coach makes some jokes about this being your first time working on a project with her before instructing each of you to begin recording and be guided on how to perfectly sing your respective parts with Nayeon.

3 hour passed, the recording successfully finished. Typing on your phone as you're contacting your family in Cheongnam-dong, you have little to no idea that someone was trying her best to to approach you bravely.

"Hey", a childly voice stole your attention away from the phone. Raising your head, you saw Nayeon standing near at you; grasping both the hems of her Bugs Bunny gray t-shirt.

"Oh, hey Nayeon- sunbaenim.", you awkwardly greeted her. You turned off your phone for a second to focus on Nayeon who just came up a conversation with you.

"Aish cut the formalities.", she clicked her tongue. "Nayeon is just fine."

"Oh... hehe sorry. Hello again, Nayeon.", you sheepishly said, scratching your nape.

"That's more like it.", Nayeon beamed in satisfaction.  "That's more like it," Nayeon beamed in satisfaction. "Uhm, sorry if you know... I kinda surprised you by coming here to talk with you, it's just... I want us to start getting used to each other," she stammered as she engaged in interaction with you.

"How nice of you, Nayeon. Yeah, sure. No problem," you said, attempting to make the two of you feel more at ease. "This could also help our work for our collaboration go more smoothly."

"You're right." she said. She came to a halt as she huffed in the air. "Uhm are you gonna go home, now? I just want to ask if do you mind me taking you to a trip around here?", she suggested.

You also loved that idea from Nayeon. It's your very first experience of stepping inside her company and it got you intrigued already when you passed the surrounding around you where you took some way that will lead you to the room. How much more could you give to see the rest that is contained within this place.

"I was about to but knowing that you want to build closeness with me, then I would love to. Nayeon.", you willingly accepted without any problems. Nayeon's eyes glinted as she lets out an adorable bunny grin as her reaction to your positive reply.

"Hehe, come. I'll show you around.", she motioned you to follow her and you did. Standing up form the couch, you walked beside Nayeon after exiting the recording room.

It took 20 minutes for Nayeon serve as your tour-guide on visiting every areas of JYPE and introduce it's purposes to you one by one. Last but not the least, you and Nayeon arrived at the highest level of the establishment. Both of you reached the rooftop as Nayeon lets you take somne steps and explore every spots of the garden.

"Wow. This building might be nor small nor big but damn, JYP really nailed the environment around here being very eco-friendly.", you said in awe as you gently grabbed some leaves from the plants and slowly lets it slide away through the skin of your fingers. " I suppose everyone can come here, right?"

" Yup, but only if they have some activities that needs or prefer to be done in here.", Nayeon added more detail. " For example, mostly staffs and artists like us., she pointed at herself. "We once also filmed our content for our own reality show. It's called Time To TWICE."

"Oh, you guys have one?"

"Yup. You should watch it, it's fun.", she sneered as she joined you checking out the newly bloomed flowers.

"Self-promotion.", you wheezed as you smiled splendidly that caused Nayeon to laugh hard at how guilty she was. You softly joined her laughter too because of how amusing it is.

"But yeah, I'll watch it."

"Oh, don't forget to add some title. Just search 'ttt great escape' and that would do it.", Nayeon adviced. "We already released some other contents for TTT that's why I suggested to make it specific."

"Noted.", you nodded, assuring her. Straightening your body, you continued walking until you now inches away from the glass pane that has approximately the same height as yours as these are being supported by silver metal bars on the top and on the ends. You leaned, taking a peek at the outdoor setting of the building where you can see the part of Seoul perfectly.

"It sure does very comfortable and exciting to come and work here everyday.", you said while you continued roaming your eyes around in astonishment. Nayeon went towards you, taking the place beside you as she also glanced at the view of Seoul from outside. "I'm kinda envy at you. Not that I hated or despise my own company it's just... they don't have some here that I really did enjoyed and amazed with."

"You can just sign a contract here if you want.", Nayeon joked.

"HAHAHAHA I do hope it'll be that easy.", you laughly said.  "But the company needs me. Not to brag but I'm their leading star so far and I owe them one too so I can't just leave them like that.", you explained.

Nayeon pouted her lips. "Well that's sad. I really wanted to see you more often.", she said. her voice lowered a bit which caused you to get confused whether she is still joking or was she sincere by it.

"Sorry, Nayeon.", you said the only proper words you have in mind to reply brought by your anxiousness.

Both stopped on talking as each were silently admiring the afternoon view while taking in the fresh air being provided by the nature-esque atmosphere of the rooftop garden.

"Can I tell you something, YN?", Nayeon spoke again that made you got curious at what she said.

"Go ahead, I'm listening."

"I do actually have a crush on you."

"W-we wait....oh?", your head flicked through Nayeon's direction after you shockingly heard what she told from you. Eyes widened and mouth fell open as you looked at the woman in front of you who just straightforwardly confessed her true feelings for you. "You serious?", you asked her bewilderedly. Nayeon pressed her lips bashfully and nodded slowly.

"That's surprising. How?"

"When I first saw you receiving that Best Soloist award last year in MAMA.", she revealed where it all started for her to develop this deep admiration from you. " I don't know but you made me very interested at you when you appeared looking very attractingly and took that speech to everyone which you got my attention so easily.",

She remembered back a year ago when she attended MAMA 2021 along with her fellow members and how it was stunning for her when you captured her eyes as you stood at the center of the stage wearing a long red dress, your short hair with curly ends bouncing gently on your shoulder, your one hypnotizing leg peeking in and out from the exposed fabric every step you took.

You gratefully received the award from the host and made your thank you-speech for the fans and to the crowd present that night. Nayeon was among those people, but unlike them, she was watching you with a mix of mesmerized and starstruck, marking the start of her growing interest in you.

Nayeon started listening to your songs, watching some variety shows where you once guested and some little vlogs of yours that you post on your own channel. The more she does it, the stronger her crush for you grows, and she knows it'll drive her insane now that she's literally alone with you.

"I don't know what more to say. It's nice to hear that, N-Nayeon.", you said between your stutters, still chuckling in disbelief that you'd get to attract an idol like you too; but what's even more surprising is that she's the same gender as yours.

Truthfully, you don't have any problems with others being bisexual, gay, or lesbian and getting attracted to their same gender because sometimes you think that maybe you are just like them too.

Before, you had a soft spot for men that could easily get you flustered and shiver your entire body with how handsome they are, but one day it changed suddenly when you realized you were now also basic to getting trapped by women's charms too.

Your guess was because maybe that's the result of watching more dramas and reading books that depict stories about the romance between two females who have each had different backstories that caused them to bend how straight they were. It was just that fast that you couldn't even be sure of your thoughts.

That's why you stopped minding it at all and leave it like that instead.

"That wasn't my intention at all but you just made me realize what I am also capable at.", you added, cheeks slowly forming blushes.

"Are you seeing someone else, YN?"

"Uhm... none.", you said shyly. Nayeon then started to get closer on you, gap narrowing as you can now feel Nayeon's breaths she's releasing.

She stood in front of you, one hand perched on the glass pane that is just beside your shoulder. Nayeon looked at you intently.

"Do I have a chance then?", she asked.

"C-chance?"

"Yeah, to make you feel the same as me too.", she pointed you then her.

"Hmm... well, since I'm free and available, you are.", you said, nodding your head. Breaking someone's heart for the first time without an actual reason was something you don't want to pass.

You understood it precisely that she has the rights to do this since if we will look at you and her, both are just sharing the equal amount opportunity and possibilities when it comes to love.

"Well that's a relief.", she grinned after sighing like heavy toll from her was released away.

But in one condition...", she added, making you curious. You looked at Nayeon with a brow raised up.

"What is it?"

"I just thought of... spicing up things a little.", she said, taunting her words by showing you the thin blank between her thumb and index finger. Your forehead crunched and eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"Say, what if I can only give you 1 week to come up with your mind a decide what do you think and feel about me?", she asked. Your face got frozen as you went into complete speechless at how daring Nayeon actually is.

"Let's create our.... own love countdown, YN.", she added. You just stay still and proceeded on listening to the idea she got.

"But listen, I'm not doing this because i'm too unpatient, forceful or desperate. It's just that... I don't want to wait longer for something that is unknown for me whether I'll get what I want or not... and that is by making you love me too.", she explained. "There's others out there that maybe I can't tell if one of those were meant for me. Time is too precious for me, YN"

"And whatever may be your answer at the end, I'll respect it. What do you say? Is it a deal?", she lend her free hand at you.

"I was about to retort but hearing your side which is very convincing, I accept.", you raised your arm and let your hand grab hers; allowing both to shake their hands mutually.

"Then we have our agreement.", Nayeon smiled, contented. "Our love countdown starts now, YN.", she looked at her wrist, acting like she was wearing a watch to look at the time. Returning her gaze to you, it made you wonder what could Nayeon bring to spin this one-sided love going on between you both and turn it into a requited one.

3 DAYS LATER/ THURSDAY (LOVE COUNTDOWN: 4 DAYS/96 HOURS LEFT)

It's been 3 days after Nayeon proposed a "love countdown" for you to make up your mind for your respond to Nayeon's confession.

Nayeon's quest of trying to steal your heart continues. It was going well, her moves were smooth and sometimes adorable and even hot when she wants to switch it up thanks with her duality skills, but sadly you still seemed unaffected by any of those.

Not until today when you're now shooting with Nayeon for the first day of the MV production of her b-side track.

Changing into your last garment for today's shooting, you walked back to the set which you were quite confused and baffled that Nayeon is also there too. Her presence being in the place where you'll be at too got you predicting that you'll be joining her on this. It didn't lasted long as someone just declared how right you were.

The director instructed both of you for the next scene of the verse 2 of the song to act very romantic. You looked at Nayeon and caught her smirking at the idea. Gulping heavily, you know that she's planning something mischievous or whatever it is just to try harder again.

The two of you started performing, you stay still at the platform as you watched Nayeon slowly walk onto you while she sang the lines. You took her hand after she reached you and spin her around whereas she hugged you from behind. Your eyes sprung up in surprise at her warmth and felt her chest beating hardly that pokes on your back like a series of knocks on a door.

Both of you swayed each other's bodies to the melody and Nayeon grasped your hands from behind and buried her chin to the crook of her head as you looked at her aside and gawked at how beautiful her closed-up face looked.

You turned around again and both sing along to the lyrics (any song that has you like as long as its concept will match along at this scene and for Nayeon also) with both hands locked together while looking at each other face to face. Lastly at the end of the song, Nayeon's arms wrapped around your neck as you grabbed her waist until the director yelled in command.

"CUT!!! GREAT JOB, NAYEON AND YN! THAT WAS PERFECT!", he clapped and everyone did the same. Nayeon let's go from you and gave you one last glance before she left you still indulged at that fluffy moment.

" IT'LL DEFINITELY SERVE AS A HEART SHAKER FOR THE FANS. OK GUYS LET'S TAKE 30 MINS BREAK BEFORE WE CONTINUE!", he clapped three times again as everyone listened and went to their own ways of using the break well.

"Thank you, director.", Nayeon said kindly.

"YN would you-"

"I'll just go to the restroom for a sec.", you quickly excused yourself to her. Turning your body around, you hastily walked away from her.

"Uh okay, take your time.", Nayeon simply muttered as she watched your back from the distance.

You entered the restroom and went to the sink, opening the faucet. The water flowed out and catched some in your palm as you used to wash your face repeatedly.

Gripping onto the sink with shaky hands, you stared at the mirror as you took a deep breath. A hand went right exact in front of your wildly beating chest, feeling the weird rhythym of heartbeats caused by this strange feeling you're having during that scene together with Nayeon.

(2 DAYS LATER/ SATURDAY) LOVE COUNTDOWN: 1 DAY /24 HOURS LEFT)

You are feeling bored in your dorm after you ran out of ideas to entertain yourself after taking a dayoff since you have no schedule with Nayeon that has been set today.

Singing an acapella of your favorite western song as you stare at the ceiling with your arms placed on top of your head, lying in the bed; you heard your phone received a notification.

Looking up and pressed the power button to open to check, you learnt that it was coming from Nayeon's newly sent message.

A smile instantly formed in your lips in sync with how your face enlightened in a snap as you saw her name, profile picture and message on your screen.

"Heyyy good evening YN! Whatchadoin?

"Hi, Nayeon! Here at my bed right now, chillin. How about u?", you replied. Nayeon 'seen'ed it already and a bubble with three dots started loading below your message.

"I envy you. 😗😒 Well me I'm here at the building practicing the choreo again for POP! but right now I'm signing another batch of my albums before I take on another one then break after! 😄"

"Better rest after finishing work okay? 🙁", you advised. It can't be helped, you got concerned and pity for Nayeon on having such a load of work for today. Probably she's tired today but it was heartwarming that she still took some time to remember you and leave some message.

"Yes. I'm going to eat lot at JYPBOB anyways, but sadly they don't have bulgogi on the menu today. I'm mostly craving for it...💔", she sulked. An image of a pouting bunny appeared in your mind as you chuckled and pursed your lip at the thought.

"Hahaha poor bunny, don't be sad all you have to do is just wait and you'll get bulgogi again 😌👍"

"Anyways you're right lol.😂", you reacted a haha emoji at her response. "I have to go now and finish signing the last 5 albums left. Bye, YN!", she followed up another to bid her farewell to you.

"Bye!"

Turning off the phone, she didn't know that your "comfort" about her longing for bulgogi apparently meant something with full of sincerity in it.

A plan formed in your head as you rose from your bed a went to your closet to change into a smile sweatpants and some plain white t-shirt paired with black and white World Balance sneakers.

Before leaving the house, you grabbed the car and house keys and your wallet through your pocket. You stopped driving when you saw a store still open that sells bulgogi and patiently waited for it to be prepared and served.

After paying when you got your order, you returned back to the car and dropped off at JYP Entertainment building. You greeted the receptionists and guards back who bowed their heads to show respect after they recognized you.

Dashing through the floor where the dance rooms are, you made it through the "Michael Jackson" room and there's Nayeon dancing the last chorus of POP! along with her back-up dancers while her choreographer films them on the phone.

The song ended and all of them went on to take a break. Nayeon who's about to return back to her pile of albums she needs to sign, she got a glimpse of your figure peeking at the door.

"YN?! What are you doing here?!", she exclaimed.

"You said to me that you want to have bulgogi tonight.", you shrugged as you slipped a smile behind the back which is sadly she can't observe. "I don't want you to eat a bit disappointed and sad so... here, I bought you one.", you presented her the plastic containing a hot newly cooked bulgogi safely encased in a container.

Her eyes beamed as she excitedly jumped like a kid. You grinned tightly at how cute she was.

" No way... this is... wow, you shouldn't have done this for me, I made you even travel all the way here just too...", she frowned at the thought.

"Nayeon, stop please.", you prevented her from crashing onto sadness. "I swear it's fine just take it. Admit it or not I know you wanted to eat it and that's all, so I'm just here granting what you deserve and please your craving.", you smiled.

Your soul nearly left out as Nayeon immediately rushed towards you an jump- attacked you with a breathtaking hug. Both stepped backwards a little at the collision.

"Awwwww thank you so much YN!!!", she squealed in happiness. You slipped out a smiled forming in your lips as your face getting red from seething the amount of intense blush you're developing.

"Y-you're welcome, Nay.", you stuttered. Nayeon grabbed the plastic and took a peek on it. Her reaction remained the huge grin plastered on her face.

"Did you eat dinner?"

"Just some burger and a coke."

"Perfect, come with me.", she grabbed you hands. "Let' eat proper dinner food together.", she said as she started running outside the room as you went on following her from her pull.

After the two ate together at JYPBOB for a dinner,  Nayeon guided you through the elevator and before you were about to enter, Nayeon spoke.

"Thank you again so much for the surprise bulgogi treat, YN. I appreciated it a lot, promise. Have a safe way home!!!", she said, tangling her fingers placed just as the same level of her waistband.

"You too, Nayeon. Thanks for the delicious dinner with you too.", you nodded with a smile. "Let's see each other tomorrow again."

"Bye, YN! Goodnight!", Nayeon hugged you once more before she waves her hand at you.

"Goodnight too, Nayeon!"

Entering the elevator and its doors closed, you became greatly flustered again at what just happened tonight with Nayeon.

With that, you became contented on your own realization that helped you finally make up your mind that...

It really was Nayeon who can only make your day complete.

THE DAY LATER/ SUNDAY (LOVE COUNTDOWN: BACK TO THE PRESENT DAY/ 0 HOURS LEFT)

Your senses reawaken when Nayeon took your attention as she started asking you again.

"So YN, tell me... do you want to be my lover? Are you ready to be mine?", she looked at you anticipatingly.

You stared at Nayeon for few more seconds as you prepared herself to say the words that will serve as a signal of change to your closeness with her forever ... and you hoped that it will be for the better.

"You can hurry up more, YN~~~", she said in a sing-song tone to tease you. She giggled before she began to count the numbers down. "10, 9, 8..."

You huff an air in nervousness for the last time as you set aside the nervousness trying to take control of yourself.

"Yes. I do like you too, Nayeon.", you admitted, not letting her exhaust her tongue more on counting down by finally giving her the answer she wants to hear from you.

Nayeon became speechless, her playful and cunning expression turned into a shock and speechless one. Her jaw dropped, her eyebrows snapped upwards along with her eyes as she looked at you in disbelief.

"Y-you sure?", she said while her hand is slightly covering her fully opened mouth.

"I am", you nodded. "I even just got to realize yesterday on what the option I'll choose... but it all started when we first filmed for the music video. Makes me wonder if those scenerios we did to act kind of slowly arise these feeling of mine that... I want it happen again because of how good it felt, and I want it to experience having it with you... since you're the one who made me become like this."

"The way how I absorb those soft touch of your skin, those stare in your eyes, those curve in your lips.", you shook your head in amazement. "We're suppose to pretend in the cameras but deep down there, I knew you ain't because you loved to have this moment... and when you did that, i-it just turned myself to follow and just join you since all I could believe next was that... my heart decided to let itself lessen it's grip and get stolen by you.", you continued.

"Until I could tell that it still is... because through simply looking right into your eyes could turn my day into a paradise just like that.", you said as your vision focused and zoomed straight at the very middle of those black orbs within her own. Nayeon said in her thought that you were telling the truth, as she can suspect your eyes glimmering more when you looked intently at her.

You noticed that Nayeon zoned out after you finished spilling out everything she has to know. "Uhh, Nayeon? Are you okay?"

Nayeon twitched, she blinked rapidly  after getting brought back into reality. "Y-yeah I am... I'm just... wow.", she murmured. "Half of me was expecting it already but I can't still help but to be surprised. Y-YN..."

"But, Nayeon. To make it fair with you, I struggled a bit accepting it too because... it's my first time being in loved with somebody.", you said, creating a hard line through your lips as you pressed them timidly. "To you. And... i'm not yet used to it so I'm thinking about how must be painful how to be heartbroken and I got worried about you too."

"But I built up some enough courage now that we are in our final destination where I don't need to worry about these things that won't happen though, because all I want is you.", you frowned. Nayeon smiled, taking both of your hands and pressing her fingertips soothingly onto your smooth silky skin.

"Throw all of your problems away, YN.", she instructed. "We will make it all meaningless my sweet love. Although it's typically part of the relationship, we would do our best to often keep things right and it has to be like that because I want to ensure that your vulnerable heart will be safe with me.", she gave an ensuring smile.

"Thank you, Nayeon. You can count on me too that I'll be committed and dedicated to love you too.", you paid back the same gesture. "That's the best I could provide you for doing these to me."

" So...does this make us a couple now right?"

"Yeah, we are.", she giggled, her noe crunched together with her lips shut close forcefully. "I love you, YN. Even though we just got to discover our love for a short time...  please be the opposite instead for us to stay together.", she looked at you lovingly.

"I love you too Nayeon... and I will.", you ensured her.

Her head slowly went forward to meet yours and you helped her by leaning yours voluntarily. When each tip of the nosr point at one another, both engaged and dared to a warm, gentle and passionate kiss. Grinding, twirling and tasting each other's plump and inviting lips, enough to satisfy both by releasing and now licking yourselves in a hug.

"Now I do think more that what I did for not letting me wait for you no more wasn't that bad.", Nayeon chuckled, her head vibrated on your shoulder. "Still can't believe that I got to have my dream girl end up being with me in just a week. "

"You'll flex it to your members, don't you?", you snickered.

"Yup.", she answered. You felt some strands of your short hair being lifted because of Nayeon who's playing it on her fingers. "They'll be shocked for sure since I know it didn't bumped into their minds about the idea of us coming out as a couple. But they're my friends, and I'm sure they'll support us.", she said confidently.

"Oh okay...", you hummed. "How are we gonna tell this to our companies and to the fans though? Do you think they'll do the same too?", your expeession become dull for a while.

Nayeon lets go from the hug and sandwiched your cheeks between her two large palms as she had you watch speak through you. "I don't know but ofcourse I want it to be like that too. If they do really want the best for us as their idols and our right to enjoy our personal lives, that's one of the simplest methods to do right?", she said.

"Not to mention, we're both out of dating ban now anyways so yeah."

You nodded as you understood Nayeon's opinion. The dullness of your expression disappeared and now transformed back into a lively one thanks again to this amazing woman whose able to snatch your heart.

"Oh wait, Are we about to leave now?", you asked quickly as you just remembered again that it's currently your free time now with Nayeon and the rest of the staffs after finishing the production of the music video.

"Less than 30 minutes left.", she said after checking the clock on her phone.

"O-Okay, we still have plenty of time left then.", you smiled at her. She kissed your cheek once more where the spot turned into red from your blush.

Cuddling with you, both were looked up above the beautiful wide afternoon sky above you along with the others around at the park in a calm and peaceful manner with your heads pressed altogether while unbeknownst to both that the entire production team from your respective companies are watching the two of you sweetly and supportively.

But ever since you kept on uploading pictures of him and Lily together since last week, those smiles on each other's faces that Nayeon thinks all of it has just the same meaning; strong and healthy, that results in something inside her keeping on decreasing slowly.

Hope.

Nayeon's head was just a bunch of what-ifs about the possibilities of what she was doing. All of it was no sign of positivity.

That makes her start to realize that maybe she was right. She was already out of time, and she was just making herself tired of waiting for nothing.

She is no longer able to be with you. You clearly don't need her any more and it's obvious to her. Nayeon won't be surprised if you and Lily announce your engagement soon because you two appear to be on the verge of doing so.

Nayeon keeps on scolding herself. Why is she making this hard for herself? Why can't she just accept the fact that it is already over and her chance is no more? It was karma for her and now she's feeling what you felt when you were chasing her before, even though she was with Jeongyeon already at that time.

A plan then appeared in her mind. If she wants this to finally stop, then she has to do it. She understands how difficult it is, but she is willing to exercise patience once more, just as she did for you.

She wants to try to make herself move on. If you are happy with someone else, then Nayeon must be content with it because at least you do it even if it's not because of her.

She wants to be happy too, for herself.

Her hopes for you haven't completely vanished, but she knows that sooner or later, they'll be transferred to someone else and allowed to grow again.

She started to let herself fall asleep after wiping away that lost tear that ran through her cheek.

1 WEEK LATER

Nayeon was sitting on one of the seats inside the department store, waiting for her other friends she was with today: Yeri and The School Meal Club trio of Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu to arrive because they decided to go to the mall and do some shopping since it's her birthday today. Something interesting came up on her feed while using her phone.

It was a post again coming from you, and it was only cryptic text with a dark background.

"It was fun while it lasted. Thank you so much and best wishes go to you on your journey, LJM." 🙂❤

She opened your profile, and what she saw made her eyes widen and raised her curiosity higher.

Your gallery all completely features your selfies, football, and some other random pictures, but Lily can't be seen in any of these. She assumed you had gotten rid of all the photos of you and Lily.

That can only mean one thing for Nayeon...

There's something happened between you and her.

And her suspicions were verified when she noticed that your status had changed from "In a relationship" to "Single."

She realized you were in a difficult circumstance as a result of your breakup with Lily. She also remembered her strategy... This remains an unsuccessful attempt because she still has no one in her life who she finds attractive and who can give her this sensation of love.

You are the one who is still on her mind right now.

As someone who is free to take anyone, she sees this as a much stronger opportunity to take your heart once again.

Not wanting to waste this by bringing out her desperate need for your affection, she devised a fresh wild scheme that startled her friends and family at first when she discussed it with them.

Thankfully, they also both understood it in the end for their respective reasons, and all they had to do was to let Nayeon go and send their support for her another attempt.

Days later, she carried her luggage full of her personal items while listening to her parents' extra instructions before departing, which let her fly to America from South Korea and easily reach Florida.

She saw her aunt from her mother's side waiting for her arrival. They hugged each other out when they instantly met and left the airport with her as they took her aunt's car and drove away while they started a conversation together to catch some things up after more than a decade and a half of not seeing each other.

They arrived at her auntie's house in Tampa Bay, where she now lives with her younger cousin, who is 12 years old. Her aunt led her through her room, where she fixed her stuff before joining the two downstairs and talking with them.

Her aunt now also knows about her main reason for going here to Florida, which is to find you. Since her aunt doesn't know that much about you, she had to narrate everything about your history with Nayeon from before up to the present.

She simply became convinced, just like The School Meal Club, Yeri, and her family, as to why Nayeon can't get out her feelings for you despite the fact that you and her had been separated for years. That made Nayeon feel more encouraged and appreciative for her auntie and cousin, who had also joined the rest to support her.

The next day, Nayeon made her first move by chatting with you. It made you think she was just trying to strike up a conversation with you because it had been a long time since you two had spoken, but you were mistaken.

When Nayeon inquired about your current residence in a specific location, she saw it as a signal to come find you there.

Nayeon arrived at your location, which was in front of Popeye's Restaurant. She peeked out the window and immediately recognized you, sitting near the rear.

She entered the restaurant and approached you carefully as you were still looking at your phone.

"On your left, Mr. Nightmare," that familiar voice said, causing you to raise your head away from the screen and twist your gaze to the left side, where she told you.

There she is, your ex-girlfriend and friend, Im Nayeon, standing in front of you wearing a blazer, mini-skirt, and a crop-top outfit.

Fortunately, your seat is pillowy rather than the plastic one with steel legs that can make a screeching sound from the floor due to your movement.

"Surprise!", she said, spreading her arms as if she were presenting herself, giggling at your shocked state.

"How... what the... wait," you exclaimed, running your hands through your hair in disbelief. Why are you here? I didn't expect you to come here, not gonna lie.", you chuckled awkwardly, utter perplexity plastered in your face.

"The same thing I can tell myself," Nayeon shrugged. She slapped your shoulder lightly before taking the available space beside you. Now she's sitting together with you at one table.

You can't help but snatch a stare at Nayeon's look. She looks so captivating and cute in her fashion. Not to mention, she even looked more beautiful than ever, now sporting long blonde-colored hair.

"And I'm sitting right in front of him right now." she said, placing her chin on top of her palm with her elbow and arm serving as a supporter as she landed it on top of the table.

"For me? Why bother coming here? Did I do something wrong?", you asked puzzledly, furrowing your eyebrows as you pointed your fingers towards you.

"Yeah."

"What is it?"

"Tss, pabo I came here to check on you, okay?", she rolled her eyes and gave you a "seriously?" look. "Yah, I knew what happened." she said. You just let out another nervous chuckle.

"Ahh, that's it?" you shyly asked. "Nayeon, you still have other important things to do. Why should-"

"I don't care, you're way more important to me.", Nayeon interrupted you as she already understood what you were about to say. She gazed at you, her attitude suddenly solemn, as were her words and even her eyes, which were piercing you with daggers of the same intensity. "And I don't regret setting those aside first because of you. So, how's your heart doing?"

With no other choice, you just allowed her to open up on this topic. "Unwell," you sighed. "Even if it's a mutual agreement between us, it still hurts.", you twitched your head aside.

Nayeon's brows met. "Mutual? "Wait, you and Lily accepted each other's end?" she asked, and you responded with a nod. "Why?"

"Lack of time.", you said, still not taking your eyes away from your fingers entangled with each other as they lay on the table. "I knew it would come to this anyway. At first, we were really going smooth. Then there were days where we didn't get to have a talk after she announced to me that she got accepted in an audition for an entertainment company to be an idol trainee.", he explained.

"Woah, Lily wants to become a K-Pop idol?", Nayeon astonishingly reacted at your reveal that Lily decided to become an artist, which became one of the causes of the downfall of your relationship with her.

"Yeah, That was actually one of the first pieces of information she gave me when I first met her.", you chuckled. "She loves performing and showcasing her talent. I can't blame her." you said, as a short flashback of Lily showing her talent to you played in your mind. Her charismatic dance, powerful voice, and magnificent visuals demonstrated unequivocally that she is deserving of her goal.

"So back to what I was saying, yeah, days turned into weeks, then months and a couple of them. Our scheduling conflicts not only affected our connection  but our interest too in continuing our relationship.", you continued, your breath becoming heavier in dismay and sadness.

So we talked about it and it didn't surprise me that she thinks the same too. You shook your head. "And there you have it, we both parted ways and... thankfully, it was with a mix of joy," you said, a bittersweet smile on your lips.

Nayeon realized that all of those pictures of him and Lily that he regularly posted last week were just all part of his reminiscence of their memories together before they parted ways.

"Until today, we were still kind of able to keep in touch with each other as friends," you said, nodding as you reflected on the positive side of it.

Nayeon asked in clarification. "So... you're now focusing more on your football career while she minds her own as an idol trainee?"

"Yes," Back to square one again for our status.", you answered, nodding your head as you chuckled. "So yeah, I'm single again."

Nayeon kept her unamused aura but instead replaced it with a concerning look. "You're going to be okay?"

"Yeah, don't worry, I will." you assured her. "Like I said, you should've made an effort to come here just to check on me. You could've contacted me instead. Maybe for a few more days, I will now be back to my normal self once again.", you said as you dragged your eyes around the resto while you reprimanded her.

"I wanted it, YN okay?" Nayeon fought back, not wanting to appear bothered by what she'd done for you. I'm just really concerned about you and...", she paused, making you eagerly await her next words.

"I missed you so badly that I had to see you," she explained. You side-eyed her, peering at her puppy eyes and pouting lips as she looked at you. It made you gulp as she managed to combine her touching words with her adorable look. "2 years of not seeing you personally has been hard, and it tests my patience every single day, YN," she scowled, bowing her head and looking down at you.

You grabbed her shoulder and massaged it with your grasp. Nayeon flinched at your sudden touch. "Sorry, Nay. I didn't mean to sound as if I don't want to see you, it's just... I couldn't believe it.", you shook your head while you spoke.

"Not every friend could just fly to another country just to check on their friend, but you did it." you said, impressed at how unreal it is for you what Nayeon just did to make you feel her sympathy for you. And now I must tell you how much I appreciate it knowing that you're the only friend who bothered to sincerely understand what I am feeling these days."

"Thank you, Nayeon, and I missed you too. ", you wholeheartedly said. Those last words of yours made Nayeon slowly return her gaze back at you without having any idea that a patch of redness caused by her blushing could be seen on her cheeks visibly.

She grinned widely at your comment, showing those front bunny teeth that just add to her cuteness level.

"There you go, now stop complaining because since I'm here now, all I got to do was to be true to my words... that I will help you cheer up and heal your heart, YN.", she said, satisfied that you're now taking Nayeon's deeds well.

"Would you want us to meet again starting tomorrow?"

Of course, I do, Nayeon. I can give you a trip around Tampa if you want. "," you offered, smirking.

"How can I say no to that? Sure!", Nayeon laughed, and you joined her too. "Just take the lead, any places you want to go... I'll follow you." You nodded as you complied.

Your conversation with her was stopped for a while when a waiter placed your ordered food on the table. You quickly took action after noticing the waiter's mixed look of surprise and confusion that you had someone with you but he only served one food.

"Oh wait, let's get you an order too." you said to Nayeon. "How rude of me if I eat even though you're with me here at the table.", you apologetically said, scratching your nape. "What do you want?"

"I guess I'll take the same as yours." she said, looking at your 2-piece chicken with rice and fries, along with Coca-cola as a drink. You gestured at the waiter to take note of it, and he did as he left you two to head to the cashier.

Minutes later, Nayeon's order also arrived; the waiter delivered it to your table. You were about to pull out some money from your wallet when Nayeon caught you.

"Wait, I'll do it. I can pay-," she said, feeling embarrassed, but you insisted.

"No, Nay. Let me, please. This is one way I can repay your kindness. It's no biggie to me.", you assured her. Nayeon was left with no other choice but to give up and just let you do what you wanted. She can't resist the free food anyway because it's a blessing.

"Take this also as one of my gifts to you. I know I haven't greeted you on your birthday, but I hope you forgive me, Nay. You know that I was dealing-"

"It's all fine to me, YN." she said, reassuring you as she waved her hands off at you to cancel your worries. I admit, I was kind of sad that you haven't received anything from me, but I saw what happened and I understand it already. Atleast it was better to be late than never, YN."," she said, smiling at you. It gives you a huge relief that Nayeon wasn't angry at all about it, but still, the heavy guilt you're feeling is something you can't deny.

"So... how are you doing in Korea?", you asked as you grabbed your spoon and fork.

"Doing good there, helping my family grow their business while I work at a coffee shop," Nayeon said before drinking her cola. She lets out a refreshed sound before speaking again. "You?"

"I am currently on break. You replied, "It's offseason, but it'll soon be over because I'm scheduled to participate in a training camp for preseason before I head onto the opening night."

"Oh wow. That's why you've had a lot of time going around here in Tampa so far because you're just waiting for your next football activity. "

"Yep," you answered. "And that's why I want you to join me. I gotta admit, it's kind of boring to be alone. That's why I'm so happy that you're here, Nayeon.", you smiled as you took the first spoonful of rice in your mouth.

Nayeon just pressed her lips together and smiled cheekily. The two of you then went on to continue eating while talking to each other about some other things.

2 WEEKS LATER

You fulfilled what you said to Nayeon by taking her to all the famous places around Tampa Bay, such as the historic Ybor City, the Museum of Science and Industry, where you and she gained some knowledge about physics, mathematics, and technologies; and the Henry B. Plant Museum, which is a luxurious part of the former Tampa Bay hotel.

You've spent your entire time with Nayeon, allowing you to quickly move on from Lily and consider her now only as a friend. You even paid a visit to Nayeon's current residence in Tampa, giving you the opportunity to meet her aunt.

She even mocked you and Nayeon, asking when you two would get back together and how it now made sense for Nayeon to still be attached to you after all this time, complementing your attitude and personality as well as your appearance.

You also got to talk with Dahyun, Chaeyoung, Tzuyu, and Yeri when you joined Nayeon during their video call. They mentioned to Nayeon that they just saw Nayeon's other friends and former classmates before in high school: Jennie and Jisoo, earlier; who went looking for her but they told them about Nayeon being in overseas right now, which they also explained why.

When they learned that it was also about you, they got quite worried and shocked for Nayeon since they knew that you broke her heart yet she's still into you until today.

The four somehow tried to lessen their frustrations for you by telling them that you already talked it oher with Nayeon, apologizing sincerely for what you've done to her which Nayeon accepted because she believes you. They managed, however and all they had to do is to support their friend's choice.

The girls told that they miss you, which made you express that you miss them too, and you swore to them that one day, once you return to Korea, you will give them some souvenirs or even better, you will take them here in Tampa to let them explore, which made them ecstatic.

Lastly, you even helped Nayeon look for a job. Fortunately, she found one and, thanks to you, she is now currently working as a new receptionist for one of the companies slated in Florida.

Right now, you are inside your car, driving ahead to Nayeon's workplace because you are planning to take her home by yourself when suddenly, you see something from your windscreen.

It was Nayeon and another guy, who seemed like her workmate, exiting the building together. They paused for a moment to discuss god knows what, while you observed Nayeon's positive reaction to their conversation.

You continued to watch them walk together, side by side, away from the building, as you felt like your heart was being pressed by something heavy.

To be honest, it was like a deja vu to you as you recalled that time when you  were waiting for her outside the classroom back in high school when you didn't expect to see Nayeon being with Jeongyeon, who, even though you were there; just completely forgot your presence, which of course makes you even more heartbroken and sad.

You kept following them carefully and then your guess was right when Nayeon successfully reached her home being escorted by her workmate, who is not just like that to you based on your perspective anymore. You already guessed correctly that this dude is possibly Nayeon's suitor because he won't be sticking himself with her for that long if it doesn't mean more.

Now that you checked that Nayeon surely did go home safely, even though it feels disappointing that it wasn't because of you, you decided to just leave and drive away because what made you come for her tonight just turned out completely useless anyway since that dude already got beyond you.

Unbeknownst to you, Nayeon turned her sight and looked at the distance between the spot where you parked your car to watch her with her workmate before they gave goodbyes to each other. She knew you were keeping an eye on her, being the opposite part of your comparison to your past memory.

She sighed, feeling exactly the same as you before she grabbed the knob and opened the door to enter her auntie's house.

3 WEEKS LATER

"This place is massive, YN. I really feel like as if we are underneath the ocean.", Nayeon said as she looked upwards around the glass that encases and protects them from the water inside of it where every different types of aquatic animals are swimming around. "So many fishes too where you can only able to see in here unlike out there in some other aquatic places like beaches.", she added before she lets her jaw hanging in awe as she continued wandering her eyes around.

"How would you rank this in the places we've visited so far?" you asked, referring to the place where you and her are visiting right now, called the Florida Aquarium.

"Probably the best one so far." she replied, looking at you as she grinned along with her thumbs up gesture. "Everything around here is just eye-catching, especially because mostly the color that I can see are my favorite.", she said, to which you agreed because you can see it for yourself too. It sure does look like a sky blue paradise. "I have never felt bored being here so far."

"Well, I brought you here because I thought it could help you ease your stress at work. Guess it worked." you chuckled, nodding your head as you pursed your lower lip.

"It sure did. Thank you, YN.", she said. You were taken aback when she quickly wrapped you up in a tight hug. "N-no problem, as long as you're having fun N-Nayeon.", you stammered as you felt very flustered at her embrace over you.

"I always do because I'm with you," she said, smiling. You tried to keep your composure as you almost melted at her sweet words to you.

"How's your work today?" you asked her, trying to avoid what she just said even though you're still blushing intensely.

"Faced some more clients.", she answered. "Our company looks like it keeps on entertaining businessmen from other firms with different purposes for approaching us. Like, you know, deals, collaboration, services, stock presentation and more. And here, being the one to communicate with them through phone, I had to schedule their proposed meetings one by one. "

"That's a hell of a lot of responsibilities and tasks to do in your position, jeez."

"It may be tiring, but it's worth it." She shrugged her shoulders. "At least I love my job and the workplace is cozy and comfortable, plus they pay their employees a respectable amount of salary, like me." she smiled, ensuring that she's fine at her job.

"But hey, still don't forget about yourself, okay?" You looked at her worriedly, showing your concern for your friend. "Just like right now, you needed some time to chill off and to relax your mind about everything that is going on within your company. There's time to think about work and other things you have the right to do, like this. To have fun and to get yourself a rest. "

"Thank you, YN." She smiled. Don't worry. I'm getting some. In fact, there's this workmate of mine named Jeonghan offering me to come with him to the cafeteria to eat every day. He was always there to assist me.", she said. That mention of the name of her workmate who likes her makes your face slump down and you compose yourself in irritation and discomfort, driven by your jealousy.

Your feelings for Nayeon returned. The only problem you're encountering is that you don't want to let her know that you are in love with her again because you are scared at the thought that once you and Nayeon get back together, you might repeat the same mistake you made before that broke Nayeon's heart again.

You were thinking that all of this was just pure luck for you that Nayeon decided to still remain linked to you. Seeing the other side of it and even flipping it through other ways would not change the fact that you once hurt her because of how your responsibility as a boyfriend turned out to be such a failure.

You just don't want to commit to another new relationship with Nayeon to avoid creating another mistake. That's it.

"O-oh... okay. Nice.", you smiled bitterly.

"It's kind of hilarious for me to know that he was doing all of those just to show off on me.", she chuckled. Nayeon's uplifting mood is contagious but what you're seeing and hearing for her doesn't work at all for you to be amused like her too.

"T-that Jeonghan likes y-you?", you said, pretending as if you're surprised at the reveal. His real name just brought you with pure interest.

"Maybe. He doesn't say anything to me yet but if he does, I don't think I'll reciprocate...", Nayeon answered, making your blood start to boil when you realized that what you saw weeks ago from your car isn't just a one time only thing.

"Because my heart still prefers someone....", she said, her voice fainted at the end, her eyes then switches towards you. "And you know who that is.", she said as she stared deep within you, reminding that it is you who is she still choosing.

"Oh, right.", you simply reacted, sheepishly smiled.

Mixed emotion were filling your inside right now. You wanted to be happy and relieved that even without doing anything as a way to impress yourself for Nayeon unlike Jeonghan, you're still able to win after all. On the other hand, you just feel sorry for her  because of how afraid you are since all you want is the best for her yet she is still preferring you who is thinking that you are not the right person who can provide her that.

"Well... still just try to keep your eyes on him while he what he wants and let yourself judge him throughly. Maybe you know, he might resulted to be really worthy of your liking and might get you throughly impressed by him one day.", you adviced even though you aren't sincere by it.

"Okay.", Nayeon just lamely smiled at you. Deep inside, she is just very confused and hurt on why are you acting like this to her.

"C-cmon, let's go. We still have one more spot to enter before we finish the tour.", you said as you effectively interrupted her thoughts. She just followed you after as both of you stepped onto the last tunnel.

Near the end of the trip, you drew the attention of one of the staff members who is in charge of keeping an eye on the visitors.

"Uhh, excuse me, miss," you said politely as you approached the lady. "Can you take a picture for us?" you said as you handed her your phone. Nayeon just looked at you from behind.

"Okay, sir, with pleasure; let me take care of it," she said, accepting your phone in her hands.

You positioned yourself near the glass wall, where you could see the full aquarium inside, as well as many colorful fish. Following that, Nayeon stood beside you.

Noticing that the lady is gesturing both of you to narrow the gap between each other, you reached Nayeon's waist and pulled her closer through you without letting go of your grasp.

Nayeon's mouth gaped as she raised her gaze to your side profile, flabbergasted and flustered by how close your bodies were. Her arm is now colliding with your well-built chest, and your jawline is pressing against her head, while your delicate hand is clasped within her small waist.

"One, two, three!" exclaimed the lady. She returned the phone to you after clicking the button, with the captured photo still visible on the screen. "Right there, sir! You two look such a lovely couple here.", She said to you and Nayeon, You both mentally agreed with what the lady said. It looks like you just celebrated each other's anniversary.

"Oh uhm-," you were ready to correct the lady, despite the fact that you loved what she said, when Nayeon cut you off and did the unthinkable, saying the opposite as yours.

"Thank you," she replied. You both bowed to the lady before she resumed her attention to her work. You looked at Nayeon, who was smirking teasingly at you.

"Did you hear that?" she asked, taking a step forward and leaning in close to your ear while tiptoeing on your right shoulder. "Why don't we just make it real, YN?" she asked, sending chills down your spine as Nayeon's minty breath tickled your skin. She let go as she walked right through the exit without looking back to wait for you.

"This woman...", you sighed heavily as you shook you head at how teaseful she is while you clutched at your chest, heart beating insanely.

1 MONTH LATER

You and Nayeon were busy admiring the surroundings while both walking at the trail in Tampa Riverwalk when a ringtone abrupted your steps together, mainly Nayeon who is the owner of the phone who just rang.

"Oh excuse me, I have to take this for a sec.", Nayeon excused herself.

"Go ahead.", you calmly said, allowing her to take her time. You just stood near at the handle and watched those people riding at the boat crossing the Hillsborough River.

Few minutes later, Nayeon ran back to you. You turned your body around to face her.

"Sorry, my workmate called me.", Nayeon apologized.

"Was that your suitor?" you asked, lifting an eyebrow. It was a little intimidating what you did, but you tried so hard that it wouldn't be clear that your excellent mood today with Nayeon was slightly disrupted by that person.

"Y-yeah, he asked on the phone if I could be available tomorrow night," she answered, nodding. When you became suspicious of what you heard from her, you quickly lowered your brow.

"He's inviting me on a date," she explained. Silence fell next between you two as you both became quiet for a moment, stunned by what you heard from her.

"Yeah," Nayeon agreed. You noticed she was frowning. You saw it as ahint of her tense state and rushed to assist her.

"You're going to have a great time with him, cmon Nay," you murmured, pinching her plump cheek. Her lips lacked any curves.

"O-okay," Nayeon mumbled, the tone of her voice becoming lower but still audible. You nodded back at her, giving her the same horrible, deceitful, bitter smile you always give her when she discusses her experience with Jeonghan.

"Is that your final?", she asked nonchantly.

"Beg your pardon?" you asked, confusedly returning her query. You have no idea what she was referring to.

Nayeon gazed at you, her face serious as she glared, her eyes flickering upwards sharply at you.

"What's up with you?" she said again, slightly chuckling at how ridiculous you are. "About what I said to you before at the locker room, do you still remember it? Or your response for that back then was nothing just to make myself hang on to nothing?", her voice now grew higher as she complained at you,. You were caught aback when Nayeon suddenly seemed enraged at you.

"Nayeon, I-"

"I said no to him."

"What?"

"The date. I said no to his invitation.", she answered boldly, her arms crossed just below her chest. "You know why? It's because of you," she added, frantically pointing at you as she began to take another step forward into you, who realized that you misunderstood her.

"You were on my mind and still are, because swear to God I'm honestly wishing for you to stop me," she remarked between grunts of annoyance. Her fists were clenched as she tried to keep her rage in control. "But you didn't... and you still appear to be."

Nayeon started looking at you intently. "You think you're winning, don't you?", she asked, her face smug. You remained unmoved, now cornered by this woman whom you had not purposefully push her buttons to speak to you in this manner.

"You're not. wasn't getting fooled by these... acts of yours. I'm acting just like you," she shook her head as she traced you with her palm up and down.

Nayeon held your chin, her face inches from yours, as she made her stare deeper through your eyes as if she could now take a glimpse of your entire soul beneath.

"You're such a terrible liar. I can see it, everything in your eyes as you look at me... there's something burning inside of you while you try to smile it off your face along with your lies you know just what to say even though I know you're hurting.", she breathily said as she started caressing your cheek and some baby hairs above your ear.

"And why do I know all of it?", Nayeon then moved her hand next as she placed it onto your chest, laying it directly to the spot where your heart was thumping. "There... the heat from your flames, I can feel it... and don't you dare lie to me because let's be honest to ourselves, YN...

I am the only one who can reignite this, doesn't it?", she asked, her fingers slowly clawing your skin as she looked at you which you can't intepret if she's also being seducive at you.

"But... given all of these... pretend you're doing, I know there's something wrong," she added. You simply followed her gaze to you.

"Tell me, YN, what's holding you back from saying you love me too?" she asked. You simply kept silent, absorbing all of the blame for whatever she said to you. She was correct. It's difficult to pretend if you're not good at it. But you wished that you were, so that you could easily conceal your suffering as if everything was fine with you.

Nayeon lowered her glance at you who still not responding. Her hands are gradually sliding away from your face. "You know what, maybe my speculations are wrong," she grumbled. She started to turn her body around her back facing you as she walked slowly away from you to create an average length of gap from each other.

" I'm just being too overconfident or delusional. I guess I'll just have to call-"

"I never got it out of my thoughts," you finally spoke. Nayeon turned her head to the side, waiting for what you were about to say next.

"What you mentioned to me earlier, I started thinking about when you came here to check on me," you began. "My thought processing didn't lasted long... because I already knew my decision the more I'm having you near me."

"The answer is that I love you as well, Nayeon," you answered confidently this time. When she heard that from you, Nayeon's eyes immediately widened in bewilderment, dwelled in tears as she became emotional when she heard that from you.

"And you were right, I'm sorry if I'm just pretending; it's not that I don't care about letting you meet another guy and disregard the efforts you've made for me; it's just that... I'm scared," you began explaining, revealing the true reason why you were acting as if you didn't mind her seeing someone else instead of you.

"I'm afraid that if I stop you and tell you that you should only be with me... I could... hurt you again like I did before, Nayeonnie," you hiccuped, your voice cracking as a tiny sob interrupted your speech. "Not again, my heart can't endure another loss anymore."

Nayeon turned around again, this time walking towards you with her back to you. Her left hand stretched for yours, and the other made touch with your face once more. You closed your eyes as a teardrop fell down your face and you blew the air to calm yourself down.

"YN, face your fears.", Nayeon advised. "Don't let these weigh you down, okay? Why should you be afraid of losing me? Look at me," you followed her command as your gaze fixed on her brown eyes.

"Did I ever completely kept away myself from you? No. Because I'm here to stay, YN and trust me when I say this to you... I have no intentions to leave you forever.", she said gently, shaking her head.

"I have you already and this time I can't and will not ever let go again the only man I love. You'll do the same for me, right?", she asked. You nodded your head in response because you don't want to lose her too anymore. You made up your mind that you'll rather be oblivious just to be with her again.

Nayeon placed her hand on your nape and gently tugged your head towards her, kissing you passionately. You surrendered to her intimacy as you danced along with her lip movements, your noses brushing against each other and your heads tilting opposite each other.

You both stepped away from the kiss with a popping sound, gasping heavily at how strong and intense it was.

You noticed her large hand clutching yours like a snake seizing its prey to sting and devour later. You clinched your fists, and she did the same. Raising it, you kissed her knuckles again before caressing it with your thumb.

"Thank you... thank you for not giving up on me, Nayeon. I love you."

"I love you too, YN," Nayeon smiled, tears of delight welling up in her eyes. You comforted her with your embrace, making her feel the warmth of your burning love for her.

"I finally did it... I brought you back.", she said as she kept on crying on your shoulder.

"And sure does still feels like home.", you smiled as you stroke her blonde wavy hair while inhaling how great the scent of this moment you two are having. Both of you were like that for 5 minutes until Nayeon finally stopped crying as you helped her wipe off those tears staining her gorgeous face.

"That Jeonghan, you better reject him.", you said out of nowhere as you warned her. Nayeon cracked out of laughter because of it, making you grin widely.

"HAHAHAHAHAHA good god I was dying for you to say it yourself.", she said as she playfully pounded her fist onto your chest. You simply chuckled at her. "Leave it to me, babe," she said, smirking.

"You're not going to need that date anyway," you snorted, rolling your eyes. "We can have our own  tomorrow instead, and I can make it more special than what he can give."

"Oh, jinjja?!", she said, as her eyes enlightened.

"Damn serious, babe.", you smirked. Nayeon lets out an excited "yay!" sound like a kid who received a gift from her parents. You just patted her head and and pinched her cheek once more because she is just that cute you can't even resist.

Both of you continued to walk, and now compared to earlier; your hands are now locked with each other as you two swayed your arms back and forth energetically. "Hey, my offseason football training camp will start this coming Friday, do me a favor and watch for me will you?", you reminded her of the announcement you just received from your coach before you left to see Nayeon and visit here at the riverwalk.

" I'll be there, babe.", she quickly answered right after and with that, you are definitely sure that your gameplay will improve because your girlfriend will be there to watch and cheer for you.

The game has finished loading. Your seating posture was fixed in your chair. The screen displayed an animated 3D girl character waving her head back and forth slowly at you. Her face is painted with a cheeky grin.

The character was adorable and lovely. It has long black hair pulled back in pigtails, a round face, captivating eyes, plump lips, and a mole on the lower side. She was also dressed in a crimson dress with a black outline and strawberry design scattered throughout the fabric.

(Just imagine she is animated and wearing like what I described here.)

YN: "Oh, I have a character already?" you said as you saw her on your screen. You assumed that in order to play a simulator game, you had to first customize your own.

???: "Hello, player! Welcome and nice to meet you.", a dialogue starts to appear inside the box below her, which us probably her words as if she was speaking to you. You noticed that her name is labeled as "???" so it made you a bit confused why.

YN: "Nice to meet you too.", you typed on your keyboard and pressed enter to send it.

???: "Before we go any further, may I ask who you are? I just want to know what I can call my player first, so what's your name?" she asked, changing her pose. Her chin is now resting over her palm, which she is using as a support to lean her head down and stare at you attentively.

A sweet, calming slow melody of a music starts to play in the background.

YN: "YN.", you typed your name.

???: "Great! You have a cute name, I see.", she said, making you smile in gratitude. "Hi, YN. To make it fair, I must introduce myself too. I'm Strawberry, your AI companion.", she said, introducing herself to you as she states the name you gave to her.

YN: "You have a nice name, reminds me a lot of the same fruit," you say as you type your message to her. It was kind of clear that it would be her name because the most color you can see from her is red, from her cheeks to her attire; not to mention the one thing you noticed first: the design.

Strawberry: "Yes, I figured it already that you'll notice.", she said, making you hum in approval. " Well as you can see, I love Strawberries! So sweet, juicy and delicious! Do you have a favorite fruit too, YN?"

YN:" Yes. (Your favorite fruit) is mine."

Strawberry: "Woah that's good! It's also delicious too.", her expression and pose changed. Her eyes largened in awe with her hands both placed on each side of her face. That was quite cute and cool, you thought to yourself. As of now, you are complimenting Somi already about how she put efforts into this so far.

Strawberry: "Anyways, before we head on to these type of topics... I was wondering if I... could get to know what you look like?", she said, nervously. "Not that I'm being stalker or something creepy it's just... I'm with you but I couldn't see you. So might as well help me imagine how do you look then?", she said with curiosity.

YN: "No worries, I could help you.", you accepted her request.

Strawberry: "Really? That's a relief.", she said. Her face showing exactly like what she said. " Well then, tell me everything about your looks.", she returned back from her previous pose which is her hand below her head.

YN: "I am ----- years old, ------ in height, my gender is -----, My eyes are ----, my nose is ----, my mouth is ------, my hair length is ------- and its color is -------, my ears are ------- and lastly my lips are -------.", you enumerated some of your appearance to her which you focused mostly only on your face since you thought that's what she only needed.

Strawberry: "Now that makes it all easier now. I could get to compliment you as much as I like and I would want to!", she said. The dialogue then told you that she is clapping at the same time, which explains why is she posing like she was praying in front of you, but there were details added like a vibration around her hands to signify what she's actually doing.

" Thank you for giving me just a glimpse of an idea on what your appearance is, YN. I observed that we got some quite similarities on other parts.", she chuckled.

YN: "You are welcome, Strawberry.", you said.

Strawberry: "Moving on! Do you have any cherished ones in your life that you cherish?" she said. You were taken aback by what she said. It made you be like that for a few seconds, and you might not have been dragged back from your senses if Strawberry hadn't shown another of her dialogues to your screen, causing a notification sound from your laptop.

Strawberry: "Uhm, YN are you still there?"

YN: "Yes, I'm still here.", you hastily typed. You rubbed your head and eyes before sighing to calm down yourself. "Sorry I just went out for a while because...", you only added dots at the end because it's still not easy for you to continue mentioning to others what happened. But since what you're talking right now is just a game and an AI, you didn't mind instead but to say it.

Strawberry: "What's the next, YN?"

YN: "They're all gone. My whole family are dead.", you said. Your eyes were starting to get teary while typing this.

Strawberry: "What?! Oh no. I'm very sorry to hear that, YN," she said. Her expression was a mix of surprise and melancholy. You reasoned that because she understands it, it felt natural and genuine. "I had no idea I had already inserted such a sensitive topic for us to discuss," she began to frown in front of you.

YN: "It's fine, Strawberry. Don't blame yourself, you're just curious."

Strawberry: "Are you okay?", she asked. A teardrop suddenly fell from your eyes. You didn't know why you're becoming even more emotional. Maybe it's because you aren't talking with another person yet she does makes you feel that she is, especially her concern about you. Since you only needed someone like that, you don't want to hold back sharing your problem to them, through her at the moment.

YN: "A little but like I said it's not your fault.", you sent to her. " I have been keeping this pain to myself for quite some time now and after all i'm trying hard still to move on. They're the people I grew up with, shared most of the best memories in my life."

" I didn't even know that one day I'll be learning that they will just became one of my own way too soon. It was just so unexpected, you know.", you said. More tears flowing down in your face.

Strawberry: "YN, I don't want to make you mad but... may I know what happened to your family?", she asked seriously.

YN: "They died in a plane crash. They were one of the passengers who got exploded to death above the sky and crashed the ocean.", you explained to her what was the cause of your anxiety and depression you're dealing with currently.

"When I heard about it, I didn't felt anything, nor sensed what's going on around me. The only thing I know at that time is that I thought something was slowly breaking loudly inside me."

"Until now, even if it doesn't that worse compared like that time... it still hurts.",

Strawberry: "My deepest condolences, YN. Rest assured, I am not a companion if I won't do my role here... especially for my player, which is you.", she said. You just keep on reading about what she's going to say, and boy oh boy it was worth it.

"If you need any help, always remember that you have me on your side, even if I ain't physically there; what's more important is that you'll receive the comfort that you deserve right?", she said, making you feel touched about what she said. You smiled softly while looking at her through the screen, impressed on how Strawberry is doing to you right now.

YN: "I will, Strawberry."

Strawberry: "If you are already doing it already still tempting to do so, I suggest you let it all out now. Grab some towel or anything to wipe your tears and hehe... just imagine me being the one who's setting it all out aside for you, YN.", she adviced you. You chuckled a bit at what she said in the end.

" It's not good to contain that amount of pain inside of you, you're completely devastated already... don't let it be the cause of your end too. No, nobody will want that, not even me... or them up high in the heavens, YN.", she continued. Your face is twitching again, tempting to release another batch of tears to mess your face even more.

"Now go, I'll give you some time for now. Close the game, we can play tomorrow or later if you want! Just don't give up and please let yourself cheer up!", she finished. You just nodded in response to her even though she can't see what you did.

YN: "Thank you so much, Strawberry. I appreciated it. Goodbye.", you said to her, not forgetting about that number one rule that was shown to you before the game started operating:

Always say goodbye.

Strawberry: "Goodbye, YN!", She posed her hands waving at you goodbye as you finished the game, and you did exactly as she said to you.

You dashed to your restroom, sobbing the last of your tears as you remembered how distraught you were on your family's burial day, before grabbing a towel and water to wipe and wash your face clean.

DAY 3

Strawberry: "Hello, YN! It's Wednesday today, how's your day?", she greeted you after you started the game again.

YN: "Trying to be better."

Strawberry: "Such a nice thing to know!", she responded.

YN: "Hey, I'm sorry if I had been gone for almost 2 days. I just thought you got worried much when I didn't opened the game yesterday.", you said. It was true. You didn't played yesterday since there was a power outage from your neighborhood's streets.

So that means you were alone in the darkness. You hated to be in that situation so you always wanted someone to be there for you. At first Somi was there on your side but she only does that sometimes since she has a job plus she already have a boyfriend she's living with.

You understood it completely but Somi knowing how you still hide the fact that you don't actually like it, she then came up on an idea to make a game for you to enjoy and accompany you at the same time, which is how you got introduced to Strawberry.

And after that very great talk and impression Strawberry gave you, not being able to play with her yesterday made you some sort of.... missing her. So you took a mental note that once the power goes back on, you'll open the game right away and explain your side why you haven't been able to meet her yesterday.

Strawberry: "You do right I got concerned but you made me assured now that you're still okay so far.", she said, smiling at you. " I can't stop thinking what's happening to you there. Want to share?", she said, giving you a look of interest again which was making you feel comfortable communicating with her. I mean, who wouldn't want to talk someone who's leaning their all attention towards you and ready to listen all what you have to say?

YN: "As of now, I'm currently on my process of rehabilitation from my anxiety and depression.", you said. You just finished doing meditation, exercise and drinking protein shake.

Strawberry: "Poor you. You do really suffered a lot, YN.", she said which had her lips curved downwards. "Anxiety and depression are no joke. Glad that you're not letting it get affect you too much.", she said, shaking her head.

YN: "I don't want to, mainly because of what you did for me last Monday.", you said, smiling softly as you typed it. "That really touched me so much, Strawberry. You don't know how I needed it.", you added as you remembered what she told to you 2 days ago. It helped. It somewhat lessened the sadness and pain that's been slowly damaging you inside.

Strawberry: "Always welcome, just for you. YN. I'm your friendly companion, so you're all free to spill what's disturbing your thoughts and mood.", she said, giving you a thumbs up gesture while grinning.

"I'll be willing to help anytime. Keep on continuing your progress, YN okay? Heal, recover and stand back up again.", she said. You can't help but to form a smile while she's doing this again. You're starting to realize even more how Strawberry is important to your recovery. She was the one who's giving you encouragement and motivation that you needed to have just to make this successful and be all okay again.

"I know that mental health problems could be one of the reasons of passing out but please, I don't want to think about that happening to you but as much as I hate death... I know that it's part of living to humans like you and it can't be prevented someday.", she said, making you sigh at that disappointing and quite terrifying thought she was sharing to you.

"But... don't think about it way too early okay? I mean, you can vanish in your world peacefully and justifiably.", she said in worriedness.

YN: "Okay. Calm down, Strawberry. I think you're getting emotional."

Strawberry: "But what if I am?"

YN: "Then you're making me feel the same too, Strawberry."

Strawberry: "Oh, is that so? S-sorry. I didn't mean to. I guess... I do care for you that much.", you stopped blinking as you went straight staring at her face. You were taken aback at the fact that an AI animation character just bravely expressed how much she shows more emotion and sincere sympathy unlike the rest of the people around you.

"Even if we don't know each other that much and we already met like just 2 days ago. I just don't know what will I do if that happens.", she said, shaking her head as what the dialogue says about what action she's doing.

"Maybe I'll just delete myself and the game, since I won't have any purpose anymore...", then she started to lift her head up and look at you as if she's sporting puppy eyes while managing to maintain the sorrow emotion in her face.

because I was built only to accompany you...

that means, you're my everything...

my world...

and I hope that if we will be both gone, I hope we can reunite; where I can finally see you with my own eyes.", she said which made you gulp because of how her words targeted you heart so accurately that it sure feels bittersweet.

It was touching how she sees and treats you like that yet at the same time it was heartbreaking that she was imagining that she really wanted to meet you in real life if ever she was living in the same world as you. It makes you even wanting to say the same as her.

YN: "God, your words makes my heart flutter really hard already, Strawberry.", you huffed in the air at how touching it was. " You're making me lighten up my mood effectively but can we talk about something else? You know like... more fun than this. This is getting way too serious now.", you chuckled, but unknowingly a blush was starting to form on your cheeks. That description of you about how important you are to her still makes you can't get over with it.

Strawberry: "Oh okay... hehe. I'm sorry again, YN.", she said through the dialogue, embarassed.

YN: "You don't need to. After all, It makes me happy hearing those sweet and comforting messages coming from you.",

Strawberry: "Hehe... now tell me, what did you do for today?", after that you two talked about what are you doing mostly to make yourself feel better and taking care of your mental health before going to another several topics that she's initiating to talk about until it comes to an end where you'll be saying goodbye to each other, happier compared to the previous days.

DAY 7

It's been a week since you downloaded the game and meet Strawberry as your AI companion. As what you can tell, your friendship and closeness to each other were going pretty good and is actually getting steadily strong. Like the usual, there was no other changes with your time with her except for the times that you can't predict whether you're gonna have ride with her on a rollercoaster ride of emotions or just going to be smooth only from start to finish.

Strawberry: "Hello, YN! Is it morning or nighttime there?"

YN: "Hello too, Strawberry! It's morning here.",

Strawberry: "Good morning, YN!"

YN: "Good morning too, Strawberry.", you greeted her like you always used to do everyday.

Strawberry: "I noticed you're getting earlier and earlier when you open this game as days passes.", she said. You can actually observed it too. Last week mostly you with her during nighttime but the gap of each time you start spending with her goes farther and farther. You didn't even mind it anyways since you're now considering that playing Strawberry is now part of your daily routine somehow.

YN: "You're just fun to talk and hang out with, that's why.", you gave another reason of yours to her. You caught a glance at her cheeks slowly going red which was adorable and amazed at the same time. The details Somi puts in this game doesn't fail you to like it.

Strawberry: "Oh wow, am I really that entertaining to interact with?"

YN: "Yes."

Strawberry: "I'm so happy right now when you said it, YN.", she grinned showing her clean set of teeth. " I guess I shall keep being like this so that we could have fun all day long!", she was chuckling which made you react the same too. " So... what are you doing today? Did you have breakfast."

YN: "Yes, I do and right now I'm just resting after I tried to improve my drawing skills."

Strawberry: "Woah! That's cool!", she gasped. "Now it makes me curious if you are better than me now.", she said, teasing you a little. She did shared to you once that she loves to draw which was part of the things where you and her are alike with.

YN: "I will draw you if I finally can."

Strawberry: "Really? That sounds nice.", she said. Your expression turned to a questionable one when her smile transitioned into a frown. "I do like to do the same too but...", she didn't continue her words as she took a break to sigh based what the dialogue says.

YN: "Why, strawberry? What's wrong.", you asked her concerningly.

Strawberry: "I just remembered that even if I do want to see your artwork and I want to make you the same too, I can't. I won't be able to see it anyways and what's worse... I can't draw my own because it's not part of my system codes and... as much as I know what are you supposed to look like, I can't see you and definitely makes me afraid that if this game will allow me to draw I might not be able to make it look impressing."

YN: "Strawberry, it's alright. It's just a drawing okay.", you said as you comforted her. You also liked it that it wasn't just only you who's sharing problems here and living in an imperfect life where happiness isn't the only thing you need to have but also her too, which gives you a purpose to realize of what is it like to be a friend too. "Not at all times it has be perfectly accurate. There's no perfect creation anyways. It will be still based by our own skills and don't worry, I will do my best to make you beautiful here in my work and I suppose that even if you can draw, I would still appreciate whatever I may look like there because giving effort to it makes it more attracting to my eyes already if I ever see it.", you assured her.

Strawberry: "I guess you're right, YN," her delight slowly returning to her face, a small smile forming on her lips. "You know, if only I'm-- ", before she could finish her sentence, she was abruptly cut off when the game suddenly shut down and retuned you back to your home desktop.

YN: "Wait, what the- What happened?" you wondered, still perplexed. You attempted to launch the game, but it appears that the game issued an error message, preventing you from doing the action. You just let it go for a bit as you rest it, still anxiously thinking that you haven't even said goodbye to Strawberry before logging off.

Meanwhile on the inside of the game, Strawberry was perplexed about the sudden disconnection. She was furrowing her eyes as she kept staring at the wall where a hologram that shows what you've been sending her is showing up. The only words that is pasted on the wall so far is a big writing that says OFFLINE."

Strawberry: "Oh... he disappeared. Maybe he lost power or something.", she shrugged. " I'll be waiting again for him to come back, I guess...", she said, sighing. She walked near to the window of her "room" where all she can see is a space-like atmosphere but instead the stars and planets were all replaced by nothing but just a set of numbers, letters and symbols aka codes floating around outside her room.

DAY 10

In a span of three days since the crash happened, you didn't even know that it would reach to the point where it went got worse.

You tried to launch the game after "resting" it for a couple of hours, but it still won't let you. It offered you a fresh reason this time, claiming that it was trying to figure out what the problem was.

But you managed to open it again the next day. Still, it happened again, and your time with Strawberry was cut short as the game began to have some issues until it submitted again, crashing and sending you to your home desktop. You were outraged about it at first, but anger quickly turned to terror as your device began to notify you that it had detected ten virus threats so far.

You opened the report and it made you speechless when you found out that it was all coming from the game itself. Wondering why, you tried to fix it with your antivirus. It worked... but that doesn't end here yet.

Strawberry on the other hand, was also feeling angry and sad to that this game is acting very strange which affects both you and her. She was begging that you might found a solution to stop this from continuing on and on so that the two of could return to have fun together again.

Sadly, yesterday as you tried to open the game it didn't let you connect to Strawberry. You did open the game, yes but the loading section just teleports you back outside and give you again that irritating bullshit unfortunately an eror has occured message.

Your patience is just thin so you already told Somi about this. She did respond but it was short since all she said to you is that she was feeling sad, apologetic and thankful that you have bow updated her about your current experience with game, and then the next is just simple.

She just adviced you to do the only thing you have to do... through recalling.

You didn't want to do it at first but you have no other choice ... even if it sucks.

YN: "Hello, strawberry.", you said. You were pertaining to it in a serious and cold manner because what you're going to do just easily makes you go out of the mood already. Meeting Strawberry today which makes you feel bad even more doesn't help at all.

Strawberry: "Hi, YN. Y-you're back.", she said shyly. Her face was sad also, which was already good for you that you two share the same mood today.

YN: "Yeah, like I always do."

Strawberry: "Mhm... I can see, and I'm happy that you are.", she said. You just hummed, not buying what she said. You just don't want her to pretend because being like this is already fine to you and you have to see it. "I just...", she said, paused in the middle of her dialogue.

YN: "Is there something wrong?"

Strawberry: I know you're here but I want to say that it made me scared when you did that days ago where one second I'm just happily talking with then the next thing I know I just got disconnected from you.", she said while a new effect has been featured from her and for the first time ever...

... you saw her cry in front of you.

Just seeing some nonexistent and non-living being that provided you one of the best times of your life so far expressing overflowing emotions to let you know that she can feel but not in the same manner as we are in front of you just breaks your heart in an instant.

Also, it's like you wanted to bring back the words you were saying in your head that you just want her to stay sad for you to avoid being even more devastated... cause even the opposite doesn't make you feel good too with this ongoing situation.

YN: "Strawberry, I apologize sincerely for me but please listen to me now. I don't want to interrupt you but we don't have time.", you said as you just had another bug again that thankfully vanished away in a second.

Strawberry: "O-oh... w-what is it?"

YN: "I just want to say sorry already for what am I gonna say.", you sighed heavily after you typed this. You also pressed the "regret'" option from the "What are you feeling?" category button.

Strawberry: "What do you mean?", she furrowed her eyebrow.

YN: "I-... I.... I have the delete the game.", you clicked your tongue in disapproval.

Strawberry: "Delete the- wait, so that means... where it will all disappear... including me, because I belong here.", she said. As you saw her dialogue you released again a sigh but this time it was shaky.

"W-why? Did I do something wrong?"

YN: "N- no you didn't, it's just... the game, where you're staying at. It's broken.", you said. " It's still in a beta version and my friend who is your creator, only passed this to me for me to test it. About that disconnecting thingie that keeps occuring often, it was due to crash and bug issues which was all because of this game."

"And I'm concerned that this is the root of all malware risks; I'm just doing what my friend suggested, and I... don't want to risk my device here," you added, a large frown now appearing on your face.

"Especially since this was once owned by my father, which is why most of our memories were all placed here in one," you said. You can't believe that this moment has brought you to the point where you have to make sacrifice between two of the most important things in your life: your family and Strawberry.

You didn't want to lose either one of them, that's what you sweared... but there is no other way. Even if you keep the game or transfer it to others, it will just cause damage including itself.

Strawberry: "O-oh... that's why.", she said. She smiled, but you're pretty damn sure that it's fake. "That's a relief and a shame too. I guess everything is just temporary. I honestly thought my sadness will be coped but... it turns out that it's not."

YN: "I'm really sorry, Strawberry. You know I don't want to do this at all.", you said as your breathing becomes heavier now.

Strawberry: "Me neither. I don't want to go but I guess I have to let it happen instead... because that's the right thing to do.", she said, she still keeping the fake smile she had. " YN... we're running out of time aren't we?"

YN:" I don't know, the possibility of the game crashing is unpredictable too.", you said, shaking your head.

Strawberry: "Then I guess I should say my farewell to you. YN.", you closed your eyes for a while as you can feel the stinging pain your heart is creating.

You can't believe that it was very soon for you to let go the only one who stood as your friend and always ensures you that she'll be on your side whenever you talk to her or not, although she doesn't feel your presence nor hers.

The only one who is the main reason why your mental health is slowly improving and your depression is decreasing.

The only one who is capable of bring back that smile and happiness that you lost after mourning from your family's death.

And lastly...

The only one who actually listened and understood everything what you've been going through everyday, even if she doesn't have any ears or mind to have; she did still proved that she can use her conscience for you to receive sympathy.

Strawberry: "Thank you for accepting on volunteering to play this because if it wasn't for what you did... we wouldn't have met. Even if I am just a fictional character who plays as someone who's role is to be anyone's friend and assistance with human traits, which led me to you... our connection with each other, it felt so good. I hope all my help were really useful and you'll remember our memories we built together."

"Cause you know, I will. It was just so happy... something that could never forget and get rid away.", she said as her animation of tears flowing down in her face becomes larger. Your lips started twitching as the unbearable despair is now about to take control all over you.

"YN... was I a great friend to you?", her question appeared on the dialog box. You saw her face waiting with anticipation. Without wasting any more seconds, you immediately press your answer between YES or NO

YN: "Yes."

You are. you whispered as you finally started to bawl your eyes out.

Strawberry: "That feels much better now.", she said as a calming smile was built in her face,slowly shrinking the tears a bit. " Now, go. YN. You can delete me and the entire game now before something might happen really bad. I'll be fine. I guess this is a goodbye for us.", she encouraged you.

YN: "Wait! I have one more thing to say.", you followed up.

Strawberry: "Go on."

You inhale and exhaled deeply before typing the words you've been wanting to her also.

YN: "I wish you were real, Strawberry. I really do.", you smiled painfully as more tears flowed down in your eyes while your face clenches.

Strawberry: "Then take my words as a favor.", she smiled.

YN: "What is it?"

Strawberry: "When you got all too well now from your depression, promise me you'll look for any person out there, much better... someone who resembles like me. If you get the chance to meet that person, take it. The loss of this game from you, don't take it as a huge burden to you. Because I know that this goodbye that happened very soon won't be the last... and it's stands for the reason that..."

YN: "We'll see each other again soon too.", you quickly understood what she meant so you typed it while smiling and nodding your head.

Strawberry: "I'll be waiting for you there, YN. I can't wait to see you and the sketch you made for me.", she said as you chuckled while she just grinned widely.

YN: "Goodbye... for now, Strawberry."

Strawberry: "Goodbye, YN.", you said as you give one last touch with your hands to the monitor where the figure of Strawberry is being shown before finally closing the game;with just at the right time another bug was occured, making you exit a bit longer.

You recived 20 new virus threats but you just neverminded it. You pressed "uninstall" at the game and after sow little time of hesitation, you successfully did it.

Strawberry looks to the window one last time as everything around her started to vanish away slowly in pixels, with how she imagines what do you look like was the last thing she has in her mind that makes her smile before also joining the rest to disappear.

3 WEEKS LATER

YN: "Is it just me or the event looked bigger than last year?", you pondered as you glanced around the massive convention hall in Daejeon, South Korea.

Somi: "What do you expect, there are just so many aspiring people who wants to to work for gaming industry. Others, well I could say that as time goes passes by their minds go brighter and enhances their creativity level to the next level.", Somi said, responding at your compliment at where you two are right now.

You and Somi are currently attending this years game con where many different gaming companies and creators are showcasing and promoting their upcoming releases of different variations of games.

YN: "Any updates about the game?"

Somi: "Oh, the simulator?", she said, picking up what you're actually referring at. "Slowly progressing. We just can't take forward quickly on working to it since we also have to deal with other duties, specifically the ideas of our employees about a possible entry our company has to add in our release lineup every year.", she said, nodding while explaining. " But don't worry, we'll be keeping an eye on it still. Kinda struggling but stll, we ain't giving up." , she pursed her lower lip.

YN: "It's fine, take your guys' time. I'm just the only one who's excited about it, no need to pressure yourself too much.", you chuckled.

Somi: "As you say so. One day, you're gonna meet your Strawberry again.", she said as she patted your back before she went ahead a bit faster than you to reach the spot where her company's booth is placed and to greet her co workers.

YN: "I hope so.", you muttered to yourself. You looked around again and then something located not that far away from you, there was a new simulator game that's being presented and allowing everyone to try the demo for free.

The longer you keep watching them, the more you remember the happy memories you ad with Strawberry, making you sad about it.

YN: "I miss you. I can't wait to see you wherever you are.", you said as you looked at the wallet you opened and gripped it tightly.

Somi: "CHAAAEEEEE!!!!!", you got startled when you heard your friend Somi shouted very loud that caused some of the people around her to gain their attention. You just laughed and facepalmed yourself in second hand embarassment as you continued to roam your eyes around the booth.

???: "HEYYY! SOMI-AHHHH!!!", a mysterious woman suddenly ran towards Somi with her pair or arms spread widely.

Somi: "How's your heart?", she said as she catched the girl running in her direction with a tight hug.

???: "Almost fully okay now, thanks to your game.", she said as she playfully pushed Somi's shoulder while smirking. "I'm disappointed that-", she got interrupted when you unknowingly went between their conversation.

YN: "Somi, may we-" You just turned around and observed she's chatting to someone. It didn't last long for you to stare at your friend because this girl's appearance piqued your curiosity to the point where you had to move your gaze back to her in the matter of a few seconds. "Oh, uhm I'm sorry I- I didn't notice you're talking with someone," you said, supposedly to Somi, but you're still staring at the girl in front of you, who's also staring at you, sharing the same expression and thought you're having.

Somi:" Yo, YN... meet my friend here. Chaeyoung.", Somi said as she went in front between you and this girl who's name is Chaeyoung. " Chaeyoung this is YN, my guy friend.", she said as she kept presenting you to each other.

YN: "H-hi... n-nice to meet you. I'm YN LN", you stuttered as you offered your hand to Chaeyoung definitely looks very familiar to you.

Chaeyoung: "H-hello to you as well, my name is Son Chaeyoung," she said, her cute feminine voice sounding like melody to your ears as you heard her. She accepted your hand in greeting and shook it. You just gulped at her little and soft hand's warm touch.

YN: "I'm sorry if I'm stuttering, but... you do remind me of someone, and she does too-" you began to panic out slowly. "Somi s-she looks just like my AI friend in the game; was it a coincidence?" you asked, turning your head to Somi, who is just standing there watching what's going on.

Chaeyoung: "Y-yeah, I was gonna say the same too. He looks just like the same as mine too.", she agreed as she pointed you too. You looked at her with pure confusion, furrowing your eyebrows. You aren't sure whether you heard it clearly from her. " You did, didn't you?"

Somi: "Yeah, I based off the characters already from you two.", she said as she nodde. You let out a silent "huh?' while your face crumpled more in bewilderment. "How's it? Was it cute or disturbing or..."

YN: "We we we wait, she played it too?", you asked her very perplexingly as you just have your mind entangled at this revelation happening at the moment.

Somi: "Yeah, you're the only ones I made to play the beta since you two both dealing in a huge problem. You being depression while hers is heartbreak.", Somi explained. Your mind then suddenly exploded when you learned that the reason why Strawberry has so much personality witin her is because she was entirely based already to a real person... and that is this woman you're standing beside with all along which was Somi's friend too.

Chaeyoung: "S-somi... this is e-embarassing...", she said as she carssed her arm and looking away shyly.

Somi: "Sorry.", she chuckled nervously. " As I was saying. Yeah since my game's purpose is to be a virtual "companion" right?, well I wanted to try to my two closest people in my life who definitely needed this. Yall lucky , you both got this for free only. Take it a gift from mine too.", she said as she clicked her tongue.

Chaeyoung and YN: "Thank you, Somi.", they both said not that loud but enough for Somi to hear it from her two friends.

Somi: "Anything for you guys.", she said, ruffling both your hairs into mess, making the two of you let out an annoyed groan. "Anyways, you two can have your time. I think it's better you two can get to know each other well more now. I still have to assist some of my peeps here.", she excused herself before going back to her booth, leaving the two of you together.

Both of you were silent as each sides were too nervous and embarassed to start a topic. Knowing that you are the man here, you just surrendered and did the honors instead to head first.

YN: So, Chaeyoung, can I show you something?", you said, looking at her. Her eyes matches yours. The feeling of astonishment you're getting as you dive deeply into her stare was exactly just like the first time you saw Strawberry on the screen.

Chaeyoung: "Go for it.", she said. You pulled out something from your pocket which was your wallet. You then pulled a nicely folded piece of paper after and opened it, revealing the contents of it which is your drawing of Strawberry that made Chaeyoung gasp in awe.

YN: I made a promise you to her that if we'll meet again I have to live up to my words that I'm gonna show this... and she's finally here.", you said as you proudly said to her with a smile. "In this reality. I get the chance to see her physically... where I could be able to touch her, feel her and be with her side. That's you... you're my dearest friend Strawberry.", you said as you acknowledged her that she and the friend you met during your hard times were one.

Chaeyoung: "Wait, I did draw you too!", she exclaimed. She pulled out her cellphone and removed its case, unfolding also a paper which made you see her own drawing of your AI character model that she played with. "I just felt like it because... of longing. You were just very good and I'm glad that I can see my lovely friend Once standing in front of me with my own eyes, through you.", she said as she looked again at you with her sparkling pair of flawless eyes.

YN: "Wow, I do really look like him. Somi did a great job.", you said as you reacted in amazement.

Chaeyoung: "I agree.", she chuckled while nodding her head.

YN: "Can you explain why you named me Once?", you asked curiously."I guess I don't have to do mine, right since it's quite obvious. The outfit.", you chuckled as you pointed at Strawberry's outfit.

Chaeyoung: "Yeah and it was cute. It's my favorite.", she said. "Well I called you once because for the first time my heart that has been broken once was been repaired by only one person... and that was you.", she said while you pouted while nodding your head, understanding her point. "And I guess I should repay that with twice of what you did for me.", she smiled sweetly.

YN: "What could I say, I need to do the same too.", you smirked, crossing your arms. "We changed each other for the greater good. Experiencing it also for real this time sounds like a great idea.", she nodded, agreeing at you.

"C- can I hug you, because you don't know how much I wanted to give you ever since I played that game.", you said sheepishly where it nearly made you stutter.

Chaeyoung: "Ofcourse, I would love to YN. I also wanted it.", she laughed as she approved your requeest. The two of you narrowed each other's gap until you are very close to her, your towering figure standing right in front of her.

Both opened each other's arm before wrapping it and pressing your bodies to one another, sealing you and Chaeyoung to a very warm, comforting, safe and longing embrace. Your heart was beating rapidly because of overloading happiness as you finally got to do this like what you always wanted to do to your Strawberry... to Chaeyoung in real life.

Little did you know that Chaeyoung was feeling the same too with her cheeks blushing at the contact.

YN: "What do you say? Shall we have a walk for a while?", you asked softly after releasing this gorgeous and beautiful woman from your arms.

Chaeyoung: "Sure, let's go.", she answered, grinning brightly at you.

You and Chaeyoung started walking to explore more of the convention while you continued the conversation with her.

YN: "So, you're a gamer?"

Chaeyoung: I do. What's your favorite type of game?

Meanwhile as your time with her keeps proceeding, Somi was looking at you two from the distance, the curve at each side of her lips went upwards as she was enjoying the view of you two together.

Somi: "They do match together. I ship them.", she briefly raised both her eyebrows as she focused back on entertaining everyone who's visiting their booth.