The three finished eating while chatting. Well, two of them chatted, Yerin just nodded along and wrote something here and there to join the conversation. All three couldn’t help but laugh from time to time. Eunbi relished in the atmosphere. She was happy, she was with people she cared about, and she was with people who cared about her.

Yerin finished devouring the last bits from everyone’s plates as well as from the containers Umji brought. Umji started to pack away them away, making sure to allow Yerin to finish the one she was working on before also putting that one away in the bag.

Now that there was nothing on the able, the three looked around at each other. Umji was the first to speak up. “Thank you for allowing me to have dinner with you guys, and for accepting my apology, Eunbi.” Umji timidly looked down before continuing. “I know I’m a sorry excuse of a best friend, but I hope I can earn your trust back in the future.”

Eunbi tapped Umji on the shoulder, making their eyes meet. “Don’t worry. Your apology was already more than enough.” Eunbi reassured. “You’re still, and will always be, my best friend.” Both started to smile at each other, glad that their relationship was okay.

Both then looked towards Yerin when she started to tug on Eunbi’s sleeve.

            What about me? Am I your best friend too?

Eunbi’s smile grew even wider. She started to squish Yerin’s cheeks that had naturally puffed out into a pout. “Don’t worry, I thought it was a given that we were best friends!” Yerin started to giggle while Eunbi stilled played with her cheeks. Eunbi then quickly pulled her hands away and placed them over her heart, feigning offence. “Unless… you didn’t think we were best friends this whole time, like I did?” Eunbi turned away and wiped a fake tear. “I should’ve known these were one sided feelings…”

Umji tried to contain her laugh as Yerin quickly waved her hands, signaling that wasn’t true, and grabbing her white board.

No, no! Our feelings are mutual!! Don’t worry!! I’ve always thought of you as a best friend! Ever since the moment I saw you I liked you!!

Eunbi had turned back towards Yerin when she felt another tug on her sleeve. After reading what Yerin wrote, she couldn’t help but once again smile. ‘You say our feelings are mutual, but are they really? Especially since I want to be more than best friends with you.’

Eunbi shook her head to get rid of her thoughts. “Don’t worry, I was kidding~” She teased, sticking out her tongue. Yerin then started to pout again, before breaking out into a mischievous grin. “What are you doing…?” Eunbi asked suspiciously. Yerin raised her hands up and pounced on the girl, tickling her.

Eunbi tried to break free from the girl, but because she was laughing too hard, her body wouldn’t listen. Both Yerin and Eunbi were in their own world, laughing, and enjoying each other’s company. The two only stopped laughing when they heard Umji stand up.

“Sorry, don’t mind me, I should head back now so I can clean these.” Umji said with a smile.

Eunbi sat back up. “I’ll walk you back!”

“There’s no need, really. Thanks for the offer though!” Umji said, trying to refuse.

“I insist.” Eunbi said while moving Yerin to the side and grabbing her jacket to put it on.

            Me too!

Both looked to Yerin who started to also but on her jacket. “Um, Yerin-unnie?” Eunbi asked, making the older girl stop what she was doing. “Do you think you can just say here? I have something I want to talk to Umji about.”

Yerin immediately looked sad when heard that, and slowly placed her jacket back. Turning back to Eunbi, she nodded slightly and sat at the edge up her bed. Clearly looking dejected, Yerin tried to smile faintly before wishing the two off with a small wave.

“I’ll be back soon!” Eunbi called back before pulling Umji out the door with her. The two walked in silence fro a bit until they were far enough away that they knew Yerin couldn’t hear them. Eunbi released a sigh Umji didn’t know she was holding. “Did you see how hurt Yerin-unnie looked??? I did that!! I’m a monster!!” Eunbi started to wail.

Umji just awkwardly patted her friend’s back. “There, there… she’ll be fine….” To stop Eunbi from continuing to make a ruckus, Umji spoke again. “So you wanted to talk to me?”

Eunbi immediately stopped. “Oh, yeah, you wanted me to tell you what happened and I didn’t get a chance to before. Plus I figured this would be the only time I could tell you since I have to leave early tomorrow morning again.”

Umji nodded, signaling her to continue. “Well… Yerin-unnie and I are all right. I haven’t confessed to her, but truthfully even if I did I don’t know if she’d understand what I was saying.”

Umji thought about that for a few seconds. “Truthfully I think so too.” Eunbi looked at Umji, curious about why she would say that. “I think Yerin-unnie only knows about dating from what I told her.”

“What do you mean?” To say Eunbi was confused would be an understatement.

Umji continued to explain herself. “A few years back, Yerin-unnie came to me with a book I had lent her. The two main characters had started dating, and she wanted me to explain to her what that meant. I told her when two people love each other, sometimes they start dating.”

Eunbi moved her hand in a way, signaling to Umji to continue. “She then asked what dating was like and what happens when they finish dating. I didn’t, and still don’t, really know what dating is like, so I just told her some things I had read. I then said that often, either the pair break up or become married. From there, maybe they would start a family.”

“So that’s all she knows about dating then? She didn’t know anything about it previously? Why is she so reluctant to date then?” Eunbi wondered out loud.

“I have no idea,” Umji sighed, “After I mentioned the part about getting married and starting a family, her mood immediately changed and she became almost angry at me. She threw the book I had lent her onto the floor and left. She didn’t even talk- well you know what I mean- to me for three days. Since then we haven’t brought it up at all.”

Both walked in silence, thinking over what Umji had just said. ‘Why does she hate the idea that much? It seems like it will be impossible to ask her out now…’

Umji broke Eunbi’s thoughts. “If you’re thinking about giving up, I wouldn’t” Eunbi looked at the girl, hopeful at what she might say next. “I see the way she looks and acts towards you, it’s different from how she treats the rest of us. I’m positive what she feels towards you is not just t