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“I’m going out for a bit.”

With only a t-shirt on, Eunji went to the patio just beside the room to smoke. A few minutes after, Naeun came out and followed her outside.

“You alright?” Naeun asked while fanning the clouds of smoke.

“I’m gonna ask you again,” Eunji said without looking at the other woman, her empty stare probably fixed at the city lights below. “What are you going to do if you have all the money in the world?”

“I told you before, didn’t I? I don’t know,” Naeun replied. Her eyes strayed down on the same direction the other woman was looking. “I’ll think about it when I have it.”

The older woman did not say anything in return and continued to smoke. When she made up her mind, she pressed the end of the cigarette onto the rail and threw it away.

“Follow me.” The two women went back inside. Eunji brought out a suitcase and placed it on top of the table. “Open it,” she ordered.

“Where did you get this?!” Her jaw dropped at the sight of cash filling up the whole thing. “Tell me.” Naeun grabbed the older woman by the shoulder. “Where did you get this?” she asked, emphasizing every word.

“It’s mine,” Eunji replied bluntly. “Now you have it, what are you going to do?”

“Why are you asking me?!” Naeun clawed her face in annoyance, unable to grasp the situation. “Fine…” She sighed in resignation. “If you’re going to act like this, at least put your money in the bank.”

“I don’t have a bank account,” Eunji replied.

“Then let’s make you one,” Naeun said in a sarcastic, singsong manner.

“I don’t have any documents nor IDs,” Eunji stated.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Naeun scoffed.

“I’m not,” Eunji replied as a matter-of-factly. “So do you have any idea what to do with it?”

The fair woman sat down on the bed, anxiously brushing her hair with her fingers. She eyed the suitcase and the older woman with a puzzled expression on her face.

“Why are you giving me that look?” the older woman asked, returning the same expression.

Naeun groaned as she slumped her back on the mattress. She couldn’t believe how the older woman was too oblivious. “Lie with me,” she said, patting her arm where the older woman rested her head afterwards. “What are you thinking right now?”

“Hmm,” Eunji hummed. “Lots of things.”

They already met several times but Naeun knew nothing about her. Somehow, she wanted a peek of what the older woman was thinking. But she knew the latter was just as cautious as her.

“Why are you so eager to spend it anyway?” Naeun asked, facing the woman resting on her arm.

“I-I don’t know…” Eunji sighed. “Is there somewhere you want to go or things you want to do?” She faced the younger woman.

Naeun leaned closer and circled the older woman’s tired eyes with her thumb, hoping to see behind the facade.

“I’ll think about it,” Naeun replied after contemplating for a while.

Hearing these words made the Eunji’s face lighten up. “Really?”

“Yeah,” Naeun said. “I’ll tell you the next time we meet.”

“Wait a second…” Eunji sat up. “We?”

“What?” Naeun rose up. “You asked me if there’s something I want to do with it, right?” Naeun patted the older woman’s back. “I might as well spend it with you. It’s your money anyway.”

-----

“Chorong unnie!” Bomi pounded her fist on the door. “Are you there?”

The redhead surprised the brunette with her bright red pajamas along with a blanket covering her head. It was a chilly morning, and obviously, she just came out of bed.

“Bomi-ah, it’s so early…” She scrunched her face, groaning irritably. “It’s only seven in the morning.”

“I know… and I’m sorry…” Bomi said nervously.

“What is it?” Chorong leaned on the door frame.

“Hello…” Minah walked in front of her mother. “Good morning…” she greeted while rubbing her eyes.

“I usually leave Minah with my parents… but they went on a vacation in the province so…” A jittery laugh escaped the brunette’s mouth. “Can you take care of her? Please. Just for today,” she begged anxiously. “I’ll pick her up after work.”

“Okay,” Chorong replied without hesitation.

“Here’s some pocket money for Minah. The backpack she’s wearing has clothes in it just in case she accidentally dirties herself.” Bomi handed the money in a hurry. “I need to leave now since I’m running late with my schedule.” She waved goodbye and ran off. “Thank you, unnie!”

“Come in, Minah…” The two of them sat across each other in the living room. “Have you eaten breakfast?” Chorong asked.

“No…”

“Are you hungry?”

Minah shook her head in reply.

“Are you sleepy?”

“Mhmm.” Minah nodded.

The two of them yawned obnoxiously at the same time.

“Let’s sleep first,” Chorong suggested. “I’ll cook our breakfast when I wake up.”

Minah nodded in agreement and laid down on the couch while hugging her panda plush toy.

“Hey, don’t sleep there. You’ll catch a cold. Sleep on my bed instead.” Chorong led the child into her room. The latter immediately laid comfortably on the bed. “I’ll wake you up for breakfast in a few hours, okay?” She tucked the blanket on the child before she left.

“Where are you going to sleep?” Minah asked.

“I’ll sleep outside.”

“But you’ll catch a cold,” Minah said, making the redhead facepalm herself at her own loss for words. “I thought we’re sleeping together since this is your bed.” She pouted with her eyes closed while her small hand held on the redhead’s wrist. “Mom and I usually sleep together too…”

The redhead sighed. “Fine,” Chorong replied a bit unwillingly. The child scooched over to the other side for the older woman.

“Good mornight,” the child joked as she wrapped her small arms around the redhead.

“Good mornight, Minah.” A smile crept on Chorong’s face as she closed her eyes and went back to dreamland.

-----

On their way to the airport, the secretary read the schedule of activities she listed down beforehand to the CEO. “The first meeting would be held in London by-” Namjoo was interrupted by a series of coughs from the younger woman. “Are you alright? Do you want to buy some medicine from the pharmacy first?” the secretary asked.

“No… need…” Hayoung said in between her coughs. “We’re… running… late…” Instead, she opened a bottle and drank some water to ease . “Ahh… better.”

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