In the past few days I tried to occupy myself by doing more work everyday. I didn’t step again on SME building, preferring to send my work over the company via a delivery. I made excuses when they wanted me to go there personally by saying that I have other commitments. The president has been lenient about it with me but soon I know that I have to do my job again.

                I also spend more time with Taemin and tried to focus on him. Every time that he’s free I would ask him to come to my house and I’ll cook for him. He didn’t question why I didn’t go to work personally; he was just satisfied with our bonding time.

                “Noona, that’s not right.” he complained.

                We were at the back of my house and I am entertaining him by imitating their dance step in their song Lucifer.

                “Wae?” I demanded. “I’m sure I got it right.”

                I repeated the steps and Taemin doubled over with laughter.

                “Yah!” I shouted. “I’m doing my best here!”

                “Aigoo~” Taemin said clutching his stomach. “I didn’t know you were so funny, noona.”

                “Oh, jinjja?” I asked, throwing corn chips at him. “Do I look like a clown?”

                “Aniyo.” he smiled trying to appease me.

                I pouted. “I’m not going to cook for you if you keep laughing at me.”

                “I’ll keep my mouth shut.” he promised.

                I laughed as he struggled to hold back laughter. “You mischievous kid!”

                The phone in the kitchen rang and I stepped inside the house again to answer it. The call was from Onew.

                “Taemin-ah.” I shouted. “Onew is on the phone.”

                “Coming!” he shouted back.

                They talked over the phone while I rummage in my refrigerator, trying to decide what to cook for lunch.

                “Noona, mianhe.” Taemin said after hanging up the phone. “I can’t eat lunch with you. They need me at the dorm.”

                I looked up from the fridge and smiled sheepishly. “That’s alright. I’m actually out of food.”

                Taemin grabbed banana milk and smiled. “I’ll call you later, okay?”

                “Arasso.” I said and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

                I ran upstairs and got dressed. I went to the grocery store and fished my grocery list out of my purse. Doing grocery shopping makes me happy because I like picking up things and choosing what’s best.

                I was looking at my list and pushing my cart at the same time. I’m not really paying attention to where I’m pushing my cart and I got confused when I bumped into something. I looked up realizing that I have bumped my cart with another one’s.

                I bowed. “Mianheyo.”

                “Tae Hee…?” a man asked.

                I looked up. “Oh~”

                I was frozen for a second when I recognize the man. It’s Kyuhyun’s father and he’s still looking kind after all these years.

                “How are you?” he smiled at me. “You’re even prettier.”

                “I’m doing okay.” I answered. “Oh~ kamsahamnida, Cho appa.”

                I blushed, realizing what I have called him. When Kyuhyun and I were still together I used to call him Cho appa, a habit that I haven’t outgrown since.

                He laughed, waving off my embarrassment. “I always like it when you call me like that.”

                “Appa!” a voice came from behind us and for a moment I thought it was Kyuhyun’s voice. It was Cho Ahra, Kyuhyun’s sister.

                “Come here, Ahra!” Cho appa said. “Look who I bumped into.”

                Ahra walked towards us and gasp in surprise. “Tae Hee-ah! It’s been a long time.”

                She engulfed me with a hug which I returned with enthusiasm. I missed her; we used to be close too. Ahra is easy to like and love.

                We ended up abandoning our grocery items to Cho appa and dining out for lunch. I don’t know if this is right but Ahra gave me no choice and I hate to disappoint her and according to her, “I don’t care what happened in the past, our relationship is different from your relationship with my brother. We’re friends.” So here I am sitting across from her, waiting for our lunch.

                “Are you sure it’s fine to leave your dad to do the grocery shopping?” I asked for the second time.

                Ahra rolled her eyes. “Appa will be fine, he’s a grown up man.”

                “Oh, right.” I said letting the subject drop.

                “How are you?” she asked. “Why didn’t you tell me that you’re back here in Korea?”

                I don’t have an answer for that so I just stared at my drink.

                “Oh, it’s because of Kyuhyun, right?” Ahra said. She’s too straight forward and I can see that it’s a trait that she’ll never change. I love that about her.

                “I’m kind of working with your brother for the past months.” I mumbled.

                “Mou?!” Ahra asked a little loudly and the people near us turned to stare. “How?”

                “I applied for a job in SME, a job to be their fashion consultant and I even design clothes for them and I didn’t know your brother works there.” I explained.

                “That babo, he didn’t tell me about it.” Ahra scoffed.

                “He has his reasons.” I said, defending Kyuhyun despite of myself.

                “Maybe but he could’ve told me.” Ahra said looking really upset. “We fought you know, when you left.”

                I looked up. “Wae?”

                “I was really angry at him and our parent’s were really upset about what he did that day.” Ahra said.

                “Mainhe.” I mumbled.

                She sighed. “It’s not you fault. I’m angry at him for doing that to you. It was so unlike him and…I’m angry because when you left everything changes.”

                “It’s not like I could stay after that.” I explained. “I mean maybe I could’ve stayed but…at that time it was all too much.”

                She grabbed my hand and gave a little squeeze.

                “I missed you.” Ahra said. “Really, I do.”

                “Nado.” I said honestly.

                “Will you spend time with me even though you’re not with him anymore?” she asked hopefully.

                I smiled. “I will, whenever you like.”

                She smiled at me then. It was the least I could do.

                “Maybe you should visit in the house too and greet umma.” she continued.

                “I don’t think I’m ready for that yet.” I admitted.

                Like Ahra and Cho appa, I was also attached with Cho umma. She always said that I am the one she likes for Kyuhyun and no one else.

                “Well, maybe when you’re ready.” she concluded.

                I shrugged and then our lunch arrived.