“For once, even for once, I want you to run to me. I want you to rush to my side like how you rushed to his.”

Blink.

“I don’t like you. I think I already love you, Lee Areum.”

Blink.

“How long are you going to stare blankly on that glass of orange juice?” Hyeri finally asked after waiting for her friend to come back to her senses for 10 minutes. Areum was the one who asked Hyeri to go to their house for some chat while she’s having her off but she’s just sitting there without saying anything. Hyeri knew that something’s bothering her friend.

“Oh, sorry. I’m just thinking of something. By the way, how have you been? Are you craving for anything right now?”

Hyeri sat back and rubbed her tummy. “I’m okay. These days, I’ve been craving for chocolates. Jinki bought some for me when he went to a business meeting in Macau.”

“Don’t eat too much. You’ll gain weight,” Areum commented and Hyeri glared at her. Don’t you ever say such thing to a pregnant lady.

“Hey, gaining weight is a normal thing when you’re pregnant. By the way, I heard that you and Choi Minho ended things. What exactly happened? Jinki told me yesterday.”

Choi Minho. Now that Hyeri mentioned him, Areum suddenly realized that she was not able to clear things with him. Areum’s such a scatter-brained person. She sighed and clutched her head before grunting. She’s sure that Minho would think of her in a different way now.

“But I heard he’s already going to a blind date again.”

Areum looked at Hyeri in surprise. “What?” she dumbly asked.

“It looks like he moved on pretty quick. Jinki said that Minho’s seeing a girl now. Things turned out well for the two of you.”

Wow. That’s really fast. So what does that mean? Was Minho not serious with her? Or is he in a hurry to find a girl as a partner?

“So tell me how you two broke everything off. I thought you’re really interested on him. Is it because of Bogum? Are you two making up? Are you getting back together?” Hyeri asked like a machine gun. Explaining it will be pretty bloody since it’s Hyeri that we’re talking about here.

“It’s a misunderstanding,” she started. She sighed, already thinking of how the explanation will go.

“What do you mean misunderstanding?” Hyeri asked before placing a slice of a chocolate raspberry cake that she really brought with her on her plate. Instead of talking, Areum picked her phone and looked for the message that broke everything between them. She handed the phone to Hyeri and she stared at it for some seconds.

“Woah there, girl. You sent this to him? So you broke everything by a text?” Hyeri asked in disbelief.

“I did not send that.”

“What? If you did not send this, who did?”

“Kim Jongin,” Areum muttered under her breath. “He sent that text when I left my phone unattended.”

Instead of a rant or a complain, a loud laughter came and Areum stared at her friend with a quizzical expression. “That blond, hot, total package doctor sent this?” Hyeri asked in between laughter.

What the hell’s with her description? Blond, hot, total package doctor? Well, she’s not saying it without evidence. Kim Jongin’s the total packa- What the hell am I thinking right now?

“He’s so childish,” Hyeri added, still laughing.

“I know ri-”

“But he’s cute. Hey, since it came to this, just date that blond doctor. Where else will you get a young smoking hot catch like him? He’s like a smoking chicken straight from the oven,” Hyeri continued, cutting her off.

Hyeri’s descriptions are going crazier by the second. Smoking chicken?

“And don’t even tell me that you can’t because younger men are not your type. I swear I’ll shave your hair if you do that,” she continued with a threatening tone. Areum just shut her lips. Hyeri’s not an easy opponent and she’s pregnant so she’s sensitive.

“Or are you making up with Bogum?”

Areum flinched. “What?”

“That’s one of the reasons why you cannot move on, right? Are you two getting back together?”

Areum just looked at her plate. How should she answer such question? She’s not really sure about everything right now. Will she be okay if Bogum asks her for a second chance? She’s had many pretty memories with him and she couldn’t throw them away just like that. But she’s been hurt badly nine years ago.

“I don’t know,” she finally replied with a bitter smile. Hyeri sighed.

“Will you give him a chance if he asks you again?”

“I don’t know.”

“Lee Areum,” Hyeri started before reaching for her hands. She gently squeezed them with a sympathetic expression on her face. “You should really try opening your heart to someone else. Nine years ago, you and Bogum ended a beautiful relationship. I mean he ended it.  I’m aware of that and I know that you’re having a hard time forgetting about him but please, don’t be stuck in that same position for too long. You’ve been in there for the last 9 years.”

Areum just stared at her friend.

“There’s a guy out there who likes you. Give him a chance. If ever Bogum wants to get back together, ask yourself again if that’s what you really want. Areum, sort your feelings and stop lying about what you feel. It’s okay if things progress in a slow pace.”

Areum bit her lip, stopping herself from crying. Kang Hyeri has her way with words and they always end up making Areum cry in the end. A tear trickled down her cheek.

“Why are you crying?” Hyeri asked in surprise before standing up. She went to Areum’s side and hugged her tightly. “Why are you crying? You’re really such a cry-baby.”

Areum quickly brushed her tears away and smiled. “I’m just moved.”

“Lee Areum, I just hope the best for you,” Hyeri muttered before patting her friend’s head. Areum nodded before burying her head in her embrace.

“Hey, we should go out to lift up your mood,” Hyeri suggested. Areum looked up, sniffing. “Where are we going?” she asked.

A smile crept on Hyeri’s face. “Where else? Heaven.”

When Hyeri said heaven, Areum already thought of a place and her friend really brought her there. It’s a place where they frequent when they both get free time to be together. Heaven is equal to shopping mall.

Instead of going straight to the cosmetics section, Hyeri pulled Areum to the kid’s clothing section. She really changed after getting married and after having 2 kids. Hyeri’s like a sister to her and she was the happiest when Hyeri finally married Jinki - her boyfriend for 4 years.

“That will look good on Jaemin,” Areum commented when Hyeri took a blue shirt from the rack. “Really? It’s his favorite color. Should I get this then?” she asked and Areum nodded immediately.

“I’ll pay for that and a shirt for Jaejin too.”

“You will?” Hyeri gasped.

“I’m their godparent for a reason,” Areum grinned before checking a gray shirt. “This also looks cute, right?”

“Don’t you think that’s a little big for Jaejin?”

Areum looked back at the shirt, pouting. “Really? I think it’ll fit him just right. He got bigger the last time I saw him.”

“Well whatever, you said you’re paying,” Hyeri stated and Areum decided to take the shirt.

“Hey, we should also look for some clothes for your future baby.”

“It’s still too early.”

Areum shrugged before pulling Hyeri. “We’re just going to look. I hope your next baby will be a girl.”

Hyeri smiled brightly. “Me too. Having two boys makes the house look like a war zone when they’re playing soldiers with their father.”

Areum chuckled. “Jinki’s a great dad.”

“Yeah, he is.”

It took them another 20 minutes by just looking at baby clothes and toys. Women. Hyeri suddenly halted when they were supposed to exit the store. Areum looked at her worriedly. “Why? What’s wrong?”

“I just need to use the restroom,” Hyeri replied.

“Do you want me to come with you?”

Hyeri waved her hand carelessly. “No need to. Stop being so worried.”

“I can’t help it. I’m a doctor,” Areum answered with a smile. “Wait for me at the cosmetics section. I’ll look for you there,” Hyeri said before leaving her friend for the restroom.

Areum barely took 5 steps and she stopped.

Kim Jongin.

She turned around immediately. Why is he here out of all the places he could be?

She bit her lip before sighing. She turned to look at him, only to notice that a girl’s with her. And basing from the color of her hair, Areum’s sure that it’s the same girl who called her ahjumma back at the hospital. She was pulling Jongin by his arm. Despite being dragged, there was no hint of being pissed off on his face.

“Oppa, how about this?” she asked with a bright tone. Jongin stared for some time before nodding. Areum saw his lips curving upwards.

“That looks good,” he replied.

Areum was just standing there, looking at them like they’re in a different world. “Really?” the girl chirped. “Anything looks good on you. But I think it’s a bit short. You should wear longer ones. There are many erts around these days,” Jongin remarked.

“I have nothing to worry. You’re always there for me anyway.”

“Hey, Kang Mira-”

“Am I not right? Oppa, you always have my back, right?”

Jongin smiled before ruffling her head. “Of course.”

They look good together. That just sounded bitter even in Areum’s ears. She wanted to look away but she just couldn’t.

She felt a painful tug inside and she put her hand on her chest. She stared as the two walked away with the dress that the girl picked.

Kim Jongin.

“I don’t like you. I think I already love you, Lee Areum.”

Why? Why is my heart like this? Am I really falling for him? For him? For Kim Jongin?

“Hey.”

Areum looked at Hyeri in surprise. “What are you looking at? I thought you already went to the cosmetics section.”

“Ah, I just saw someone I thought looked familiar,” Areum lied.

“Really? Who?”

“I was mistaken. Anyway, can we go somewhere else?”

“Huh? Why?” Hyeri raised a brow. “I just felt like I’m losing my energy to walk around. Can we sit for a moment?” Areum asked and Hyeri nodded right away.

“You really look like your energy’s been from you,” she commented, looking at Areum.

And as they walked away from the store, she couldn’t help but think of what she just saw a while ago.

She really needs to sort her feelings because it’s already frustrating.

That surprised look from Areum that night has been visiting Jongin’s mind every now and then. When he said those lines, he really meant it. He felt his heart being squeezed painfully when he heard that Areum went to check on Bogum when he suddenly fainted. Even though he tried to convince himself that she just probably did it because of her doctor’s instincts, he still felt that painful pang inside him.

Bogum and Areum had a history.

Areum wasn’t able to give her an answer because somebody called them to get inside the room for the party. A part of him wanted her answer that time but a part of him was anxious that she might say no and was thankful that she did not give any answer to his question.

“Oppa.”

“Huh?”

Mira was staring intently at him before pouting. “What are you thinking about?”

Jongin shook his head, reaching for his drink. “Nothing. Just some work stuff,” he lied. Mira nodded slowly before propping her chin on both hands.

“Oppa, do you have a girlfriend?”

Jongin coughed up when she suddenly asked that. “Why are you asking?”

“I’m just curious. I’ve been telling you that I like you but you’ve been pushing me away. Am I not pretty?”

“It’s not that you’re not pretty. You’re pretty. It’s just that I already like someone.”

“Who? Don’t tell me it’s the ahjumma at the hospital,” Mira asked. Jongin’s eyes were wide open. “How did you know?” he dumbly asked.

“There’s a thing called woman’s instincts. So it’s really her? Why her? I’m a lot prettier than her.”

Jongin reached for her head to pat. Despite being such a brat and a crazy admirer, Kang Mira’s a good kid. She’s been following Jongin since they both became acquainted because of their families. They first met each other when Jongin moved to the U.S. after his surgery and from that time on, sh