"What's wrong with your face? You look like you just stepped on a big poop on your way here," Hyeri asked, staring at her friend who just plopped on her chair with a sigh. Areum pouted before burying her face in her folded arms. "A gigantic poop," she commented before whining more. Hyeri, who's already used to her friend's behavior, just continued eating her slice of carrot cake. 

"What is it this time?" 

Areum lifted her face, sighing. "Jihyo's getting married in two weeks. I just received the invitation a while ago," she replied, pouting again. 

"That's great news but why are you acting like that again?"

"Look here, Jaejin's mom, Jihyo's marriage will leave me the only person who's still single among my circle of friends," Areum replied in a matter-of-fact tone. 

"And so?" Hyeri deadpanned while shrugging. "It doesn't mean that you're the only single person in the whole world. There are many people who died single." 

"And that's supposed to make me feel better? Thanks a lot Kang Hyeri," Areum sarcastically commented. Hyeri sighed and shook her head. Sometimes she doesn't know what to do with her friend when she's acting all emo. "What I mean is that there's nothing wrong with being single. You can do anything without being tied with household chores or taking care of your kids, your husband and in-laws. You're still 32-"

"33, ," Areum corrected. Hyeri nodded right away. "You're still 33 and that's still not late to get a boyfriend or a husband," Hyeri finished. 

"You can say all of that crap because you got married when you're freaking 26," Areum stated bitterly. 

"Watch your words, my baby's going to hear all that," Hyeri shushed while rubbing her tummy. 

Areum's jaws dropped open when she realized what Hyeri wanted to say. "You're pregnant again?" 

Hyeri nodded in reply. "3 weeks to be exact," she added. "Congratulations my peach baby," Areum squealed, standing and hugging Hyeri with all the love she had. "No wonder you're glowing," she continued after pulling away. Hyeri smiled at her friend. Areum could be rough with her words from time to time but she's such a bundle of warmth and love and Hyeri could testify to that. Being her childhood friend, she's a very viable witness to her loveable personality. 

"I really love you but I feel envious right now. Your husband's really industrious. You're already having your 3rd baby and here I am rotting in a corner with no one by my side," Areum said, pouting yet again. Hyeri chuckled before pulling Areum into another warm hug. "You have me," she said and Areum just joined her in laughing. 

"Hey, can't you just ask your husband to arrange a date for me with one of his office mates?" 

"Are you sure? You've been in like more than 10 blind dates but nothing's working out. And I know it's because of your high standards," Hyeri commented. 

"I can't just tie myself down to a person who's not up to my liking," Areum said, taking her seat again. Hyeri reached for her water and took a sip before sighing. "I know. I know. I'll ask my husband to do that. And I'll ask him to pick a guy who will perfectly fit your style."

Areum grinned. 

"Thank you, ," Areum stated before covering her lips with her hand when she realized what just came out from . The word  has been their way of showing endearment for each other but it sounds bad for other people's ears and that's the reason why they tried to tone down the usage of it when they're in public. 

Hyeri laughed at Areum's actions before rubbing her tummy again. "No problem," she replied. 

Areum could hear the laughter coming from her parents' house as she opened the gate. Basing from how loud the laughter was, she knew that her aunts and cousins came for a visit. Her family's bond is tight - too tight for her liking. With a sigh, she closed the gate behind her and entered the house, praying that no one would notice her so she could just go to her room and lock herself for the rest of the day. 

Just go on with your chatting and please don't notice me creeping here. Just don't look here and-

"Oh, you're home! Your aunts and cousins are here," Areum's mom called.

Yeah, I'm home but please spare me the talking this time and let me sleep. I already look like a panda from my all-nighters. Those were the words that she wanted to say but nothing came out from . She just smiled and greeted her aunts who were smiling back at her. 

"Aunt!" a kid suddenly squealed before running towards her, hugging her thighs before letting go. Areum looked down, smiling while trying to recall what the boy's name is and whose kid he is. "Kibum, right?" she asked, confident that she recalled his name. The kid shook his head quickly. "I'm Kihyun. Kibum's my older brother."

Shoot. Me and my rusty memory. 

"Ah~" she nodded slowly before lifting her face. 

"Unnie, you look thinner than the last time I saw you," Minhee, Areum's maternal cousin, said as she walked towards her. "I've been working hard these days at the hospital. That must be the reason why I lost some weight," Areum replied while touching her cheeks, smiling. Minhee patted Kihyun's head and the kid looked up at her.

"Go and play with your brother," she said and the kid nodded right away before running to his brother who was busy playing with some Lego bricks. 

"They're growing well," Areum commented. 

"They are. But unnie, you should really take care of your health. Your wrinkles are already showing. You'll not get a guy at this state."

Areum's lips twitched but she stopped herself from grabbing her cousin's neck at that moment. Her parents taught her how to be calm and forgiving. Minhee's a little devil in an angel's clothes. Areum let go of a forced laughter. "You're really cute," she commented, gritting her teeth in the process. Minhee batted her freaking long lashes cutely. 

"I know right. That must be the reason why Jinwoo's all over me," Minhee stated and Areum couldn't help but grunt internally. Minhee's only 27 but she already has 2 adorable kids and one handsome and responsible husband. Areum's already turning 34 in four months but she's still single. These days, dreams of dying single were hunting her at night. 

"You're right. That must be the reason," Areum just nodded to cut the conversation. "I'll just go and take a shower. I came here straight from the hospital," she added, her head on the goal of leaving that spot and that painful situation. 

Minhee nodded right away and Areum turned her back on her. She regretted coming home for her day-off. Sleeping at the hospital sounds better now.

Areum originally thought of just locking herself inside her room after taking a shower but her mother came knocking the second she got out of the bathroom, telling her to come out and eat snacks with her aunts and cousins. 

So she found herself staring at the television with one leg up while munching a whole slice of watermelon. Her hair was left down and water's still dripping like it's announcing to the whole world that she took a bath after two days straight of not taking one. She laughed out loud at what she was watching. 

"Sit properly," her