Aria crawled off of her bed, tossing her history book aside and rubbing violently at her eyes. She had woke up earlier this morning so that she could study for a few of the many exams she had not prepared herself for, but that was over fourteen hours and three classes ago. It was now six o'clock in the evening and after about forty minutes of reviewing the lesson she napped through in history, she was tired again from having studied so much and slept so little. But now was not the time for sleep because Aria had a date to get ready for. Aria glanced at her phone to see she had two messages waiting for her from Woohyun,

 

 

 

"I can't wait to see you either Woohyun..." Aria breathed, her tone tired and worn as she trudged over to her closet, peering at the many pairs of pants and jeans, the sweaters, the shoes, her beanies and hats, and finally the scarves hanging up in her closet. She did not want to look too made up to meet Woohyun, but she didn't want to look like a slob either, on top of that she had no idea where she was going, so fact that Aria had to pick something out to wear only frustrated her. Aria pulled out an over-sized salmon pink sweater and a pair of light tan khaki skinny pants, her hands moving to grab a pair of flats when her phone began to ring,

 

"Oh Woohyun give it a rest already goodness gracious!" Aria groaned as she grabbed her phone and peered at the screen, only to see that it was not Woohyun at all, but Taeil. Aria scrunched up her nose, her mind racing with reasons as to why Taeil would be calling her, her mind racing with all the negative possibilities. The last time she had spoken to Taeil was when Aria told him about Jay getting up set with her, and that was a couple of days ago, since then she has seen him twice, one time on her way to her history class and another on her way to meet Woohyun. Aria swiped a finger across the screen of her phone and pressed the device to her ear

 

"Tae-Taeil? Hi...is everything alright?" Aria asked, her voice a little hesitant, 

 

"Hey Aria, I am doing great...a little tired from running across campus all day. How about you, you've been resting I hope, you seemed pretty busy today...when I saw you earlier you looked like you were in a hurry to get somewhere." Taeil's voice was laced with concern and care, Aria's heart fluttering away in her chest as his voice bore into her head, 

 

"..oh, yeah, I'm fine...I have been studying all day....so i guess you can call that resting...I mean, while I was studying I was lying in me bed... " Aria shrugged, 

 

"Aria, you need to lay down and sleep...not study..." Aria shook her head as if Taeil could see her,

 

"I'm fine Taeil, stop worrying okay? I've been resting for the past couple of days..." Taeil chuckled,

 

"No you haven' Aria, and you know you haven't. I can hear it in your voice..." Aria growled, 

 

"Taeil I am fine! Okay!? Please stop worrying about me." Taeil was silent, a little taken aback at Aria's outburst, which only confirmed his assumption that she had not been resting like she should have. 

 

"Okay Aria, whatever you say...how is Jay doing?" Aria squeezed her eyes shut and exhaled deeply, 

 

"I''m sorry Taeil, I didn't mean to lash out like that...Jay is doing fine, she is swiftly getting back to herself, everyday she gains more strength...she is doing tons better than before." Aria said, her voice wavering as she thought about the little spat they had a few days back.

 

"It's okay Aria, sorry for upsetting you...I'm just worried about you...you really scared me last week, do you know that?" Aria nodded her head and sighed, her heart fluttering and the butterflies on her stomach setting rampaging around, her entire body tingling. Just hearing Taeil say that she scared him, that he was worried about her, made Aria weak, well, weaker than she already was. Aria in a small breath before responding to Taeil, 

 

"Don't apologize Taeil, you didn't do anything wrong...and I know...I'm sorry about that...I didn't mean to alarm you...or Jay..." Aria said, shaking her head at herself, 

 

None of this would have ever happened had i just ignored the exhaustion and composed myself... Aria mentally scolded herself, 

 

"Speaking of Jay, have the both of talked about what happened?" Aria looked up at her door, Jay's room visible from where she stood in her room. Jay and Aria had not talked about much of anything since their little fight, there was just too much tension left in the air for anything to be discussed without awkwardness.

 

"No...not yet...you know um, I have to go...I'll call you...later okay?" Taeil sighed in Aria's ear, 

 

"...Aria, you need to talk to Jay..." Aria shut her eyes and inhaled, Taeil was right, after everything that has happened in the past two week, there is no reason for Aria and Jay should let such minor argument come between their friendship, not now, not ever. Aria parted her lips to respond to Taeil, but stopped short of saying anything when she heard a door open. Aria looked up to see Jay emerging from her room, her glasses on her eyes, fuzzy bunny slippers on her feet and her phone in her hands. 

 

"...thank you...Taeil, I-I have to go...talk to you later?" Taeil exhaled heavily, 

 

"Okay Aria, be safe, stay warm...and please, get some rest..." Aria bite her lip and nodded, 

 

"...I will Taeil, bye bye..." Aria waited for the call to end on it's own before taking the phone away from her face. She looked up out of her door, shaking her head before laying her outfit down on the bed and tossing her phone on her pillow,

 

'...you need to talk to Jay...'  The sound of Taeil's voice echoed in her head as she slipped on her pants and she parted and straightened her thick and curly hair, the once long curls now even longer and fine. Aria brushed out her hair one last time before slipping into her pink sweater and putting on her large pearl studs, she turned around to get a pair of shoes out of her closet when she saw Jay. 

 

Just apologize, Aria... Aria walked out of her room, twiddling her thumbs as she absently watched Jay take a seat on the sofa, pulling her feet under herself and turning on the television. She stood there, in her doorway, for minutes, contemplating what to say to Jay, and how to say it, Aria had no idea what it was she needed to apologize for, expect causing her dear friend to stress so soon after being released from the hospital. 

 

Isn't that enough? Aria thought to herself as she crept into the living room and stood at the end of the couch, her hands hiding in the sleeves of her sweater, 

 

"J-jay?" Aria stuttered, watching the images that flashed on the television reflect on Jay's glasses, 

 

"Hmm?" Jay hummed, completely engrossed in the game show that was playing on the screen, glancing over at Aria one time then double taking when she saw that she was dressed, 

 

"Whoa Aria, are you going somewhere?" Jay asked, looking her dongsaeng up and down, eyes settling on Aria's face, 

 

"Yeah, I um...I'm going out...with Woohyun..." Aria watched as Jay's expression dropped from that of pleasantly curious, to pissed and annoyed, 

 

"Oh, okay well, whatever...see you later..." Jay said, her tone of voice heavy with disapproval. Aria nibbled her lip and watched as Jay averted her attention back to the program she was watching, 

 

"...J-jay??..." Aria sputtered again, looking at the television screen, her hands cold despite the fact they were in her sleeves, 

 

"What is it Aria!?" Aria jumped at the tone of Jay's voice, fierce and cold,

 

"...spit it out already!" Jay exclaimed, so irritated that she was not even aware that she was shouting, 

 

"...I just...wanted to apologize...f-for upsetting you...for worrying you....for stressing you out. I am sorry for it all. I really am...I just want you to get better and an-" Jay looked up at Aria, her lips, which were set into a straight and thin line, relaxing as she noted the grave look on her friend's face. 

 

"Aria, you...you don't have to apologize...I was wrong for exploding at you like that..."

 

Besides, you don't even know why it is I am really upset... Jay thought as she looked on at Aria, 

 

" Yes, I do, Jay...you have every right to be angry with me...I am putting your life in danger by my being foolish and careless...and i am so very sorry for that...and I know you dislike Woohyun, but Jay...I really like him and I think...he likes me too..." Jay rolled her eyes and folded her arms across her chest, 

 

"But Aria, he is bad news...i just...i feel like it would be a big mistake if you get mixed up with him-" 

 

"Jay, I don't know that for sure....and I will never know if I do not give him a chance...and..and if anything does happen...I'll leave him..." Jay shook her head and looked down at her hands, 

 

"...but Aria..." Aria walked over to Jay and looked down into her, kneeling down and taking her hands, 

 

"Jay,  I promise...if anything happens between me and Woohyun... I will leave him...okay?" Jay looked dead into Aria's eyes. After everything that Aria lied to her about i the past, she was not sure that she could trust Aria, but looking into her eyes, Jay knew, that Aria was telling the truth. That if that bastard Woohyun did anything at all to hurt her, that her best friend would leave him. 

 

"I believe you, Aria...I do...I'm just...I'm scared for you...I swear if that bastard hurts you I don't know what I'd do..." Aria giggled,

 

"Well don't you be, Jay...nothing will happen to me...like i said, the moment I feel something is up that I do not like...I'll leave him..." Jay nodded her head, a small smile creeping across her lips, she may have still been a little upset Aria for having lied to her about not taking care of herself, but she definitely felt better about her best friend going on a date with Woohyun.

 

"I'm sorry for lashing out at you, I really am..." Aria shook her head, 

 

"Don't be, like I said you had every right and I I mean that..." Jay nodded her head and laughed, happy that the tension that was once in the air had disappeared, 

 

"...what time are you meeting Woohyun?" Jay asked, trying her best to go along with this giving Woohyun a chance thing, causing Aria to smile, 

 

"Oh um...actually I am supposed to be leaving now...: Aria said, her eyes widening at the realization of what she just said, 

 

"Go get your shoes you idiot!" Jay exclaimed, waving Aria away and laughing as she watched her hurry into the room, her hair flying all over the place, 

 

"I'll see you later okay Jay, don't move around too much and rest...I'll call Taeil and tell him to come over..." Jay nodded her head and grinned as she watched Aria slip out of the door, the giant ivory pompom on the top of her beanie that last thing she saw before the door shut completely. 

 

Aria stood over by the tree she knew all too well, every day she would sit there to think, to relax, and it was always in vain because no matter how much she tried to psych herself out, nothing worked, her heart ached for her sick friend. But now that Jay was fine, there should be no reason for Aria to be feeling so uneasy and uncertain of the decision she was about to make, but then again, this was not just a place where she thought about Jay, but Taeil too. She'd meet him her here sometimes, his bike always parked some ways from that tree, and the longer she stood there, the more Aria found herself thinking about Taeil and all the fun adventures they had together the two weeks Jay was in the hospital. Aria looked out into the parking lot, hoping that her eyes run up on Taeil's bike, but after a few minutes of looking and not finding his bike, she gave up.

 

"Aria?" Aria jumped at the sound of her name being called from behind her, her heart racing away as the familiar voice sunk into her ears,

 

Taeil!? Aria found is name echoing in her head as she turned around to face him, 

 

"Ne?" Aria said softly, peering up at Taeil as he approached her, his eyes wide with surprise, or at least that's what she believed it was. 

 

"Aria, what are you doing out here? It's so cold out..." Taeil said as he stopped a few feet in front of her, tugging his jacket off and moving to wrap it around her petite frame. Taeil moved so swiftly that by time Aria parted her lips to speak, Taeil had his jacket draped around her shoulders, pulling it together in front of her, 

 

"It's fine Taeil, I'm alright...here, you need your jacket more than me..." Taeil shook his head, 

 

"No, I'll be okay. Why are you out here?" Taeil asked, wrapping his arms around himself, each one of his breathes coming out in little white puffs of air. Aria watched Taeil, the puffs of air framing his face,the man lifting his legs repeatedly to keep warm, 

 

"Come here. Gosh, stop being so noble....and stubborn...you are freezing and you know it..." Taeil shook his head defiantly, a small smile slipping across his lips, 

 

"No. Stop avoiding my question...why do you look so...dolled up? Don't tell me that you straightened all of that hair of yours just for me... " Taeil joked, flashing Aria a wide grin, his eyes sweeping along her body, his hands moving to touch her now straight and silky hair.  Aria watched Taeil as he twirled a lock of her hair around his fingers, her heart beat quickening with every passing second that Taeil peered into her face. A white puff of air fogged her view and Aria sighed, 

 

 

"...Taeil it is too cold, here take your jacket...my sweater is keeping me warm and toasty..." Taeil shook his head again,

 

"No, Aria, I don't want you to get-" Taeil smiled brightly before biting down on his lip as a bone chilling gust of wind swept past them. Aria watched the young man struggle against the wind, her heart aching because he was sacrificing his health for her. Aria didn't think twice, she just acted, taking a couple of steps until she was inches in front of Taeil, outstretching her arms and wrapping them around his torso.

 

"I'm doing just fine Taeil, I promise...I am...so stop worrying...okay?" Aria whispered against Taeil, whose stiff and frozen body began to relax the longer she kept her arms around him. Taeil lowered his once raised arms and wrapped them around Aria, her cute and seemingly childish notion making his heart skip beats, his body melting as Aria stayed pressed against him. Taeil looked down at Aria, the big pompom on her hand tickling his chin, he pushed it out of the way and craned his neck to look into her face, 

 

"...I can't do that Aria...no matter how much you beg me and Jay to stop worrying...it will never happen..." Taeil murmured, looking up from Aria's dark brown eyes and flicking the pompom that was on top of her hat. 

 

"But Taei-" He looked back down into Aria's eyes and smirked, 

 

"It's not going to happen Aria...as long as I have had to put up with you...believe it or not I think I may actually be able to consider you a friend...and as my friend...it is my job to worry about you..." Aria smiled softly and giggled, 

 

"Ahh that's right...we don't...or should I say didn't like each other before..." Taeil and Aria stood there under the tree wrapped in each other's arms, looking as if they were more of a couple than frienemies. 

 

"You know, you were right...your sweater is really warm." Aria giggled and nodded her head, her eyes locking with Taeil's,

 

"I told you..." Aria mused, her lips curled up in a permanent  grin, her heart busy fluttering away as Taeil gazed at her,

 

"...you look really beautiful Aria..." Taeil murmured, his voice low and sweet, the playful mood around them shifting into something entirely different, both of their hearts thudding uncontrollably with in them.

 

"...oh...whatever Taeil...i didn't do anything special...I just..straightened by hair..." Taeil chuckled,

 

"I know, but you still look beautiful... you always look beautiful..." Taeil whispered, his cheeks and ears turning a deep shade of red as the words fell from his lips, Aria was so silent that Taeil was afraid she had stopped breathing. Aria was speechless and beyond flustered, her heart hammering so hard against her chest that for a second she thought it would burst through her ribs. Aria parted her lips to respond to Taeil's flattering comment, but the sound of another's voice stopped her short of forming a word, her body jolting in Taeil's arms, 

 

"Aria?" Aria squeezed her eyes shut at the sound of Woohyun's voice, swearing under her breath as she peered up at Taeil who was staring daggers in Woohyun's direction.  

 

"...I have to go now Taeil, I'll talk to you later okay?" Taeil tore his eyes from Woohyun's direction and gazed into Aria's face, 

 

"...you're not seriously going out with him after how he-" The sound of Woohyun's voice again cut Taeil off, 

 

"Aria, am i interrupting something??" Aria turned around and looked at Woohyun, a wide and rather forced smile on her lips, 

 

"Oh Woohyun...no...um, give me a second alright..." Aria turned her attention back to Taeil to see him boiling over with anger, his clenched fist pressing into the small of her back, 

 

"Taeil it's okay...do me a favor please and go visit Jay...I don't want her to be alone. She needs to rest..." Taeil pursed his lips, a low and almost inaudible growl escaping his throat,

 

"...you need to rest-" Upon seeing the pleading expression on Aria's face, Taeil shut his mouth and shook his head, 

 

"Okay Aria, just...just be careful alright...and I'll go right now. Text us when you are on your way back okay?" Aria nodded her head and unwrapped her arms from around Taeil,

 

"I will, I promise...now get inside...it's freezing...I'll see you in a little while..." With that, Taeil unwrapped his arms from around Aria's waist and allowed her to step away from him,

 

"Oh here's your jacket Taeil. Thank you, for letting me use it..." Aria noted the cold expression on Taeil's face, 

 

"Jay will explain everything when when you get there...I'll be alright Taeil..." Aria handed Taeil his jacket before jogging over to where Woohyun was standing some ways away form the tree, his lips set in a straight line, eyes dark and narrow as he glared at Taeil. his cheeks burning red,

 

"I'm sorry I kept you waiting Woohyun, I was just talking to Taeil." Woohyun looked away from Tael and down at Aria, his eyebrow rose skeptically, 

 

"Looked like you two were doing more than talking from where I am standing." Aria could feel the heat flood her face and was so happy that she was dark skinned, 

 

"It wasn't like that Woohyun, he um...he just gave me his jacket and...well it's co-" Woohyun interrupted Aria before she could finish her plea, 

 

"It's fine Aria...Let's just get out of here. I haven't seen you all day and I would hate to spend the initial part of our first date talking about someone who is irrelevant." Aria's heart stung at Woohyun's comment, turning her head to see Taeil walking away back toward her dorm building. 

 

He isn't irrelevant...Aria thought as she followed Woohyun away from the tree and to his car which was on idle, the air inside warm and crisp. Woohyun opened the door to the passenger side and motioned for Aria to get in, his face now, instead of a deep red, a rosy pink. Aria kept shut the entire ride, not once taking her eyes off of the passing trees, cars, and lights, finally shutting her eyes when the sight seeing was making her dizzy. A few minutes passed when Aria and Woohyun arrived at their destination, Aria's eyes bounding open the moment she felt the car halt.

 

"We're here, Aria..." Woohyun said, reaching over and brushing the back of his hand over her cheek, flashing her a radiant and dazzling smile that would take any dame's breath away, all expect Aria's. A faint and slight grin spread over Aria's full lips, 

 

"Really? Aria asks looking at the people who walked down the dark street,

 

"Really." Woohyun replied, stepping out of the car and hurrying over to help Aria out of her seat. 

 

"You know, I didn't get a chance to tell you how pretty you look. You should really wear your hair straight more often." Aria smiled up at Woohyun, her heart stinging at his comment, it was almost as if he were saying he did not like her hair curly but would much rather it straight. 

 

'you still look beautiful... you always look beautiful...' The sound of Taeil's voice echoed in Aria's head as she peered up at Woohyun,

 

"Oh, thank you Woohyun...where are we exactly??" Woohyun held out his arm waiting for Aria to hook her arm with his,

 

"Just some place quiet..." Woohyun and Aria walked into the little bistro cafe, Woohyun going all the way to the dimly lit area where a series of booths sat lined up against a wall. It was a cozy little place, warm and comfortable, the strong smell of coffee beans and freshly baked breads filling the air,

 

"This place is amazing." Aria marveled as she and Woohyun slid into the booth, both of them on the same side  sharing a seat. Woohyun turns to look at Aria as she pulls off her beanie and smooths out her long, dark, and thick hair. 

 

"Aria, you do not know how happy I am that I finally get to spend time with you...like with out the annoyance of having to hurry to my next class or with out you disappearing to handle some business. It is just you and me." Aria looked at Woohyun and smiled radiantly, all of her teeth showing, 

 

"I am happy we got a chance to hang together as well, Woohyun. I needed a break from...well everything..." Woohyun smiled at Aria, watching as her eyes lit up with her smile, she was just so gorgeous. Woohyun let his eyes fall from Aria's face down to her full that sat perkily in front of him, covered by the pink sweater, hiding from him. Woohyun glanced over at the table then back up into Aria's face, biting his lips as he thought of what to say next, his mind wandering off to the surely perfect body that was covered by all of those clothes Aria had on. What Woohyun would do to feel that body of Aria's would feel against his, but the moment the thought entered his mind, he grew furious and upset, the sight of Aria and that Taeil fellow snuggled closely together under that tree racing across his eyelids.

 

"Aria, you know how I told you I had something to ask you?" Aria's eyes widened with curiosity as Woohyun grabbed her hands and peered into her face, his teeth pinching the inside of his cheek as he restrained himself from losing his cool, besides, Aria was not his girlfriend, yet. He had no right to get upset with her for hugging another guy, up until today they were only talking, nothing more than friends. But that was all about the change with what Woohyun had to ask Aria.

 

"Uh huh? Yeah i remember..why?" Woohyun looked into Aria's wide innocent eyes, 

 

She's so...pure...and innocent...but I can change that... Woohyun thought as he plastered an angelic smile across his lips, 

 

"Well...Aria, I really like you...and my question is...umm...I wanted to know if...if maybe you'd be my girlfriend?" Aria was taken aback by Woohyun's question, her breathe catching in as she watched the young man's cheeks colour. Aria did not want to answer Woohyun because up until now, she had never thought about being apart of a relationship, the thought had never even crossed her mind. But who  crossed her mind was the main thing Aria was thinking about as she attempted to form a response to Woohyun's inquiry,

 

Taeil... Aria thought as she looked up at Woohyun and smiled shyly, 

 

"I like you too Woohyun...so yes, I will be your girlfriend..." Aria didn't even know what she was saying and by time she did realize what it was she was saying, it was too late for her to take it back. Woohyun squeezed Aria's hands gently,

 

"Oh my goodness, you scared me for a second there, I thought you were going to say no." Aria shook her head,

 

 

"No, of course not, Woohyun. Why would I say no, I'm not even seeing anyone...expect you..." Aria tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, 

 

"Is that so? Hmph, you could have fooled me." Woohyun said, his tone playful but also hinting at something more serious, more dangerous, 

 

"Oh about that, I was saying that I was only talking to Taeil, I wanted him to go and hang with Jay while I was out with you...he's just a friend...a really good friend..." Aria said, pausing for a brief second before continuing, but was cut off before she could even speak,

 

"Are you sure because he looked to me to be more than just a really good friend ...I mean...the way you two were holding each other would suggest that...maybe the two of you had something going on..." Woohyun watched Aria's expressionless face falter as he made his speculation,

 

"It's nothing like that Woohyun...me and Taeil are..we're just friends...nothing more...not even friends...more like frenemies" Aria looked down at her hands then up at Woohyun, her lips set into a straight line, 

 

"...that's all you two better be...' Woohyun muttered as he watched Aria fidget with her hair and then move her hands to fiddle with the pompom on her hat that lay in her lap, 

 

"Hm?" Aria asked, looking up abruptly with those dark and innocent eyes of hers, catching Woohyun off guard,

 

"Oh I said that's relief, for a second I thought I had some competition." Woohyun lied, glancing up at Aria, his cheeks rosy and warm, before turning around to grab the attention one of the waiters. 

 

"Can I get two large mugs of hot chocolate...uh one raspberry hot chocolate and the other french vanilla..." Woohyun turned around and asked Aria what else it was she wanted, 

 

"Oh it's okay Woohyun, I'll be content with the hot chocolate..." Woohyun shook his head and smiled slyly, motioning for the waiter to bend down so he can whisper something in his ear. The waiter exclaimed a load 'aaah' before looking over at Aria and then walking away from the table.

 

"What did you just tell him about me, Woohyun?" Aria asked, her voice shaking with small giggles of nervousness.

 

" You'll see soon enough." Woohyun whispered, taking up Aria's hand and placing a lingering kiss on her knuckles. Aria was a little flustered by the notion, smiling up into his face. Aria and Woohyun sat in the booth and just chatted, both of them laughing every now and then as they talked about what happened to them during class. Aria had to admit, Woohyun was a charmer, very entertaining, and striking, the way he smiled so breathtaking that people around would turn to look at him, Woohyun was infatuating and he knew it. The waiter came back, a tray balanced on his hand, two large mugs of steaming hot chocolate on top of it, 

 

"Here is the hot chocolate you ordered sir." The waiter looked over at Aria and smiled, 

 

"And the special chocolates you ordered as well." The man said, pulling out a medium sized pink rectangle box that was wrapped tightly together by a big white bow. 

 

"Thank you." Woohyun said as the man placed the mugs on the table and then handed Woohyun the pink box. The man smiled and bowed before walking away,

 

"Enjoy." The man muttered before disappearing. Woohyun turned in the booth so that his body was facing Aria, handing the box out for her to take,

 

"I know we only just started going out today, but...I wanted to show you how much I like you...I hope you like them Aria..."  Aria hesitated to take the cute box, but upon seeing the blush spread across Woohyun's face took it. 

 

"They're chocolates... I didn't know what kind you liked so I just ordered a variety of them." Aria looked up from the box, 

 

"That's so sweet of you Woohyun, thank you. It's so cute." Aria looked over at her steaming cup of hot chocolate, she was not too fond of chocolate unless it was in the form of hot chocolate or chocolate covered strawberries, however, every once on a while she wanted a good piece of chocolate. 

 

"Not as cute as you are." Woohyun murmured, taking his cup and sipping at it's hot contents, peering at Aria over the mug. Aria grabbed the mug and sipped at the raspberry hot chocolate, a shiver traveling through her body. For some strange reason, Aria found herself thinking about Taeil even though she was here sitting in a booth with her new boyfriend, Woohyun. 

 

Why am I thinking about that babo... Aria asked herself as she glanced at Woohyun and smirked before returning her attention to her mug of hot chocolate, her mind returning to thoughts of Taeil.

 

Woohyun and Aria stayed at the bistro cafe for a total of one hour and forty five minutes before finally leaving, the both of them going on a little walk at the park that was a few block away from the cafe. Aria didn't want to ruin her and Woohyun's first date with her trivial complaints, but she was bone tired, and wanted more than anything to just go home, take a hot shower, and curl up in her bed, wrapped in tons and tons of blankets,

 

Wrapped in Taeil's arms. The moment the thought crossed Aria's mind her breath fled her lungs and she stopped mid stride, Woohyun walking ahead of her, not even noticing that she had stopped. Aria closed her eyes and shook her head, a small wave of dizziness taking her by surprise.  

 

"What...what are you talking about Aria..." Aria whispered to herself as her mind wrapped around the thought that crossed her mind, 

 

"Aria, are you okay?" Woohyun asked from a few feet away, turning around to see that she was standing some ways back, her hand on the side of her head. 

 

"Oh!" She jumped at the sound of Woohyun's voice, her arm falling to her side, 

 

"Yeah, I'm fine..." Aria said, her voice wavering with embarrassment, and exhaustion. 

 

"Maybe it's time we start getting back to the dorms." Aria allowed a single chuckle to escape her lips,

 

"You think so?" She asked, walking up to him, her voice low,

 

"Yeah, I'm a little tired and I am sure you are too."  Aria chuckled a bit and snorted,

 

"I'm fine Woohyun, but since you are tired we can go." Woohyun nodded his head and took Aria by the hand, walking back to his car as a leisurely pace. It took all of Aria not to fall asleep while Woohyun drove them back to the dorm, after all the time they spent together the prior two weeks, Woohyun still had no idea what all Aria had been through, so that fact that she was still suffering from extreme exhaustion, went unknown by him. Aria watched Woohyun through heavily lidded eyes as he walked around the car to her side, opening the door and helping her. Aria and Woohyun took their sweet time walking to  Aria's dorm, 

 

"You know...I am so happy you said yes...because now...I can call you mine." Woohyun said as he and Aria entered the building where her dorm room was, but she barely heard him for she was thinking about the moment she gets go bed. 

 

"Which brings me to ask this...I know you and that guy are friends and all but...do you think you could ya know...not hang out with him so much...?" However, Aria heard him this time. She scrunched up her nose and shook her head in disbelief, which immediately began to spin as she shook it. Taeil and Jay was right when they said she still needed to rest but it was too late for that now, it was already midnight and Aria had a class first thing tomorrow at seven. But at the moment, her fatigue was the last thing on her mind as she thought about what it was Woohyun was asking her to do. There was no way just because she was now going out with him that she was going to stop hanging out with Taeil, not when things between them were getting so much better. 

 

"What!? Why? We are just friends, Woohyun...you don't have anything to worry about." Aria laughed the response, trying her best to eliminate any tension in the air, trying her best to cover the irritation and exhaustion in her voice. Aria, placed a hand on the wall, resting her tired body against it, 

 

"Yeah I know but...I don't know...that hug was a little intense. I can not help but to be a little paranoid. Even if you are good friends." Aria sighed and grinned lazily, trying her best to mask her sleepiness and frustration. 

 

"...trust me, Woohyun, you have..n-nothing to worry about..." Aria stuttered, Taeil's face flashing across her heavy lidded eyes,

 

He has nothing to worry about. You and Taeil are just friends...right? The sound of her own voice, unsure and filled with doubt, echoing in her head, making her more dizzy than she already was. She really did push it too far this time, she should have listened to Jay and Taeil, she should have rested a little while longer before jumping at the first opportunity to go on a date with Woohyun. As Aria stood there fighting her exhaustion, the first traces of doubt entered her mind, but they did not stay for long, just as soon as the doubts about Woohyun entered her mind did they dissipate, the cute pink box i her hands reminding her of just how thoughtful and sweet he was.  

 

"Okay, Aria, whatever you say. Sorry I was just...I mean, you are so pretty and I would hate to lose you so soon after getting you." Aria peered up at Woohyun, one side of her lips curling up into a half smirk, 

 

"It's okay Woohyun....you won't be losing me any time soon." Woohyun smiled at the sound of that, but Aria was not all too sure she meant what she said. At the moment, she was just feeding him what it was he wanted to hear, for all she knew, Woohyun could be the devil, but there was no way of her knowing until she spent some more time with him as her boyfriend and not just some guy she was talking to. 

 

No....I sure will not lose you... Woohyun thought as his lips moved to bid Aria a good night's rest. 

 

"Bye Woohyun." Aria whispered, waving at the young man before disappearing behind the door and locking it, sighing heavily, glad to now be in the comfort of her dorm and out of the cold.

 

"Ugh!" Aria exclaimed as she turned around to see the television flashing with scenes from an action movie making her head spin, however, when she trudged over into the tv room, no one was was watching it because Taeil and Jay were fast asleep. Taeil was laying on the floor a little ways from the couch where Jay lay with a blanket pulled over her body. Aria trudged over to the tv and turned it off before tiptoeing over to Jay and giving her a small shake, but when she did not budge, knelt down and lifted her into a sitting position, 

 

"Come on Jay, you need lay down in your bed." Aria's voice was strained as she lifted her sleeping friend to her feet, Jay mumbled something incoherent and began dragging her feet but resting a majority of her weight on her short dongsaeng, not that they were too much different in height. 

 

"Ah! Jay!" Aria exclaimed as she felt her legs giving out the more weight Jay rested on her shoulders. Aria inhaled deeply, pushing that fatigue beneath her and caring her friend to her room, where she laid her in the bed and pulled the covers up to her chin.

 

"Good night Jay." Aria whispered, before taking small shaky steps toward the exit, her legs feeling like noodles, shutting the door behind her, her hands still  tight on the knob as she held herself upright,

 

No, you can't give up now Aria...you can't... Aria thought as the strength in her body slipped away from her,  

 

"Ummgghn~" Aria moaned as she slid down Jay's door, her head resting against the wood, her arms falling to the ground with a thud, her eyes falling shut, time seeming to have slowed down so much that every second felt like a hour. Aria didn't know why she was still so tired, she slept for at least twenty four hours, there is no way she should have still been this tired, but here she was, so weak she could barely get her friend into her room without passing out afterward.

 

If Jay saw me now she'd be livid... Aria thought as she opened her eyes and looked over toward the living room were Taeil should have still been laying in the floor, but Aria did not see his body on the floor any longer, which meant that he either rolled off somewhere, or he was up and roaming about. Aria turned her head so that her cheek was resting against the cool door, her body beginning to tremble the longer she forced herself to stay awake. Before Aria could even think about going to sleep she had to make sure Taeil was comfortable,

 

"Tae-!" Before Aria could finish calling his name, she felt a pair of arms lift her up, her body being cradled into a warm chest. Aria didn't say a thing as Taeil carried her to her room, she just stared into his face, her hands shaking a little as the exhaustion stormed with in her. Aria hummed as she contemplated what to say to him, but before she could form a word, Taeil pressed a finger against her lips, his eyes boring into hers before falling shut again, his body falling slack on the mattress beside her, his hand sliding down the side of her face as he fell back to sleep at the foot of her bed. Aria just laid there, staring at Taeil's slumbering face. Aria was about to slid out of bed but she was too tired to even move a muscle, her body was screaming for her just rest. Aria wiggled out of her sweater and long sleeve tee, leaving her only in her over sized tunic tank top, she pulled off her pants and dropped them on top of her sweater that was on the side of her bed, leaving her in her tights. With the last bits of strength, Aria pulled her blanket from underneath Taeil and herself and threw it across both their bodies, a  weak smile gracing her lips as she reached forward, pushing his hair out of his face with a shaky hand before her eyelids, as heavy as led, fell shut over her eyeballs. 

 

Maybe...I made a mistake after all... The sound of Aria's voice so distant and faint bounced around in her head as she surrendered to the oblivion that wrecked havoc on her petite body.