Sulli woke up around 12 noon, slowly blinking her eyes looking around her familiar room. Glad that she pulled the curtains shut before she went to sleep, she shifted her position turning to her side, viewing the digital clock at her bedside table

“Oh sh--!”

She hastily stood up, grabbed her towel and ran to the bathroom to wake her sleepiness away. She had to prepare for the dinner that night. Yes, she accepted Minho’s invitation to dine with them at his parent’s house, on one condition; she will bake him his birthday cake.  Of course, the birthday boy agreed… anything to have her meet his parents.

After a quick shower, she changed into her working clothes and rushed to the kitchen. Putting some music on while she gets started, eyeing on the ingredients set on the kitchen island. She had the ingredients ready when they came home, so she started baking.  Thinking of what to bake since last night, she settled with a Ferrero Roche cake recipe.

With her expert hands, she mixed all the ingredients well, with all care and love folded in, the way her mom taught her. Remembering her mom’s words “think of the person or people who will taste and eat your food, what expression would you like them to have, what experience you would want them to get out of your cooking... give your heart to the dish you’re making, like how you give your heart and soul to your craft. That’s the secret.” With a smile on her face she suddenly remember the time she and Minho spent in his mini getaway place.

Flashback…

“Where is this place?” Sulli asked as she got out of the car

“This… is my sanctuary… I come here to think, to rest, to feel” Minho got off and gestured to her to sit beside him on the big rock.

They were actually not far from the city, it was just a spot on a hill where the city can be seen from afar but with more of the feel of nature from where they were seated.

“You come here alone?” she asked tucking a bit of hair behind her ear and faced him. The cool air brushing her cheeks making it blush

“Yes, always… except for now” Minho said placing his hands in his coat pocket to keep it warm

“It’s nice up here… peaceful yet you still get a touch of reality” she said pointing at the city view

“I thought so too, and I’m glad that I can share this spot with you” he turned to see her, he was fascinated with the view he’s seeing than the city view.

After a few moments of silence, Sulli had a question in mind that bothered here constantly, guessing that this is the right time to ask him.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Sure, anything” he shrugged

“You and Yuri… you’re close right?” her brows creased as she looked at him, he just nodded

“and she’s your… uhmm… you love her, right?” she asked, looking at his expression when she said that, he sighed looking back to the city view

“I loved her… that much that I forgot that I also have myself to love. Even when she got into a relationship, I didn’t stop loving her, thinking that as long as she stayed close to me, it didn’t matter if she loved me back or not.” He turned to Sulli who was staring at him, listening to every word he said

“It all changed when she flew to the US with Justin. That’s when it struck me, she had me, her friend, and Justin her fiancée while she was here, but when she left… I was alone… lonely… soon enough realizing that I’ve been holding on to impossible hopes. I projected my emotions through the theater, though I was wrecking inside, my acting got better and more emotional… then I was invited to Japan, where I had the chance to learn different side of theater culture and a different perspective on emotion.” He said

“did you ever stop loving her then?” she asked

“I did still love her, but not as strong as before. Somehow, Japan changed me, it made me more open and accept other possibilities. I moved on… and when I heard she was coming back to the theater, I had to check on my feelings. I proved that I really had moved on from her when I saw her personally. My heart didn’t beat the way it used to. We were still friends like we used to, the only thing that changed was how I see her now. I love her as a friend, I won’t deny that, coz she was a part of me for a long time” he smiled. Sulli fell silent for a while and sighed<