“You've been doing a splendid job taking photos of the boys, Miss Cho.” The words echoed in my head as I stepped out of the lobby slipping my portfolio into my backpack before attentively pulling out my camera and slipping it around my neck. “Keep it up for the next five months and maybe Big Hit will consider keeping you as an on staff photographer.” It was the fourth meeting that I had to attend with the manager of BTS and CEO of Big Hit. They both had commended me for my work and explained that I was doing a superb job. That was definitely good news seeing as how I still had to sneak around the apartment to get good candid shots of everyone.

It was difficult considering most of them were so used to posing every time they saw a camera. And even though I wasn't too keen on having to get down on the floor as quietly as possible in order to get a picture of them playing video games or hide around a corner to snap a photo of them eating together, I did it anyway. It was an endearing and painful process, but the results always turned out the best. They were all such expressive people and all so beautiful too. It was my job to show their fans a different side of their idols and I wanted to do the best that I could for the company, the fans, and especially the guys. Despite only knowing them for barely a handful of weeks, I'd picked up on most of their habits and quirks. Like how Jin had given and memorized a name for every single one of his Super Mario figurines and faithfully polished on a bi-weekly basis or like how J-Hope was one of the most mischeivous member of the group all together and enjoyed pranking everyone (including me). As I continued to snap photos of them in their most natural states, I got to know each of them more and more, and within a number of days, we were all good friends.

With the exception of Suga, however. While he was the easiest to get pictures of, he probably didn't like me very much at all. How I knew this, I could tell from the silent glares and scowls he'd send my way if he caught me snapping a photo of him. I couldn't understand why he didn't like me. Not that he had to. It was just that I'd never done anything to him, but regardless I made sure to keep my distance. It was really a shame though. He made me the most curious out of the rest and there was something about him that made me want to talk to him more. Not that I have a crush on him or will develop feelings for him at all. I'm far too young for him anyway. He had said it himself on the second evening since I had arrived. He and Rap Monster were arguing in the kitchen when they had thought that everyone had gone to bed.

I'd left my camera out on the kitchen counter and decided to go grab it since I still had to review the photos from that day. It was already a few past eleven and everyone was either asleep or off doing their own things. I was surprised to see the lights in the kitchen still and even more surprised to hear muffled conversation. "Come on, she hasn't done anything wrong." A voice reasoned as I got closer. I recognized that person to be Namjoon right away. The second person spoke in reply, but I could barely make out the words as I continued on. "You're being irrational, Yoongi-hyung." He added on. His voice stern this time. Yoongi? That's Suga. He's talking to Suga? I thought to myself as I finally stopped just a foot away from the doorway. I peeked around it and found that the two were facing away from me as they conversed.

"It doesn't matter." The latter replied, shaking his head. "She's a kid, I don't like her, and she doesn't belong here anyway." He ended the entire conversation before abruptly turning away from the other rapper and made his way to exit the kitchen. Of course I had to act fast and I managed to flee the scene before I was caught. I stayed in my room for the rest of the night and instead entertained both Jimin and Jungkook with tales of what my childhood in America was like. I didn't get the chance to go over any of the photos from that day until the following morning during breakfast, but as I sat there munching quietly on my cereal going through the shots, I could feel the slight apprehension between myself and Suga. I hadn't noticed it was there in the first place and that left me a bit unsettled. I did notice that he didn't really say anything to me since I arrived, but I just assumed that it was because he wasn't as open as the others. The more I looked into it, the more I noticed that he was actually quite playful and quite loud with everyone (excluding me). Again, that didn't bother me so much. I wasn't about to force my friendship upon a person who clearly had no interest in getting to know me. In the long run, regardless of whether we'd become friends or not, the others were far more than enough. I was content with what I had.

Might as well as be productive. I thought to myself as I freed my earphones from the hole they were designated to come out of in my backpack, and popped them into my ears. The CD I had chosen was still playing from when I had put it away earlier, and I could once again hear the soft sound of piano keys being played. With that done, I hoisted my backpack over my shoulder and continued on my way. It was still pretty early out and considering how the guys were off at practice again, I basically had the whole day to myself. I should probably work on updating my portfolio. I finished off as I made my way to the park a couple of blocks away. It was such a beautiful day today. It would be an absolute shame to not take any pictures while I'm off. 

"Thank you, have a nice day." I said softly with a smile to the barista dropping my change into the tip jar as I grabbed the drink that I had ordered and made my way outside to sit under the awning. After I had finished up at the park, I stopped by my favorite cafe to grab some of my favorite iced tea. Despite it already being fall, the weather today wasn't too cold out. It was still warm enough for me to take off my jacket and not freeze to death. With that beind said, I'd abandoned the prospect of wearing my jacket and tied it around my hips sometime after I'd gotten to the park. It was nice to feel the breeze on my skin.

I had taken a good amount of photos during my time at the park. Enough to fill up my memory card. All I had to do now was review them, delete the ones that I deemed unworthy, get them printed out, and shove them into my portfolio for safe keeping. I sat back comfortably into the seat I had chosen and began looking through the shots I had taken. To anyone else's eyes, they weren't anything special, but to me they were all very precious. As cliche as it sounded, it was true. One shot was of an elderly couple. I'd seen them around that park every time I'd visit and with their permission, I'd take their picture. Each shot of them was different and I think the thing that I found best about them was that they always entertained my request to take a picture of them. The next few shots were just regular bits of wildlife and inanimate objects that I deemed interesting. The final shot was probably the worst one that I had taken however consisted of a family of four. A father, a mother, a son, and a daughter. The father was carrying his daughter on his back and the mother was holding her son's hand as they walked off. I'd taken the picture while they were walking away. It was blurry and the lighting was horrible considering that the shot was facing the sun, but I couldn't help but let myself be mesmerized by the photo. My finger wavered over to the delete button, but for some reason I just couldn't do it. Actually that was a lie. I knew the exact reason as to why I couldn't delete the picture. With a sigh, I turned off my camera and set it down before picking up my drink again and taking a sip.

I ended up spending the rest of my time there at the cafe just listening to the music that played on my CD player and reading my worn out copy of Howl's Moving Castle again. It was probably my favorite book since I'd learned how to speak english. I read it until my drink ran out before putting it down and checking my watch. It was already around four in the afternoon. That gave me about at least three hours to visit Jaewon. I broke out of thought when a hint of color caught my attention. I turned my head and spotted a bouquet of flowers. Were the flowers that I left for him still alive? I asked myself counting on my hands since my last visit. About a week ago. I continued on in thought. Hana did tell me that she made sure to change the water and keep the flowers by the window though so they could still be alive. I reasoned in my head. But then again, she does have the tiest memory in the world. With a sigh I dug my phone out and flipped it open to dial Hana.

I sat back in my chair quietly as I waited for her to pick up or for the thing to go to voicemail while I toyed with the wire to my earphones and set my camera back around my neck. I listened to the line ring a couple more times before she finally picked up. "Hello? Euna?" A muffled voice came on the other end. "What are you calling me this early in the morning for?" She added on with a yawn. I must have woken her up again. If that was the case, she was either at home or just sleeping on her shift at the hospital again.

"It's like four pm and I just wanted to know if you've been taking care of the flowers." I paused. "I'm going to visit today." I added on shortly after. "I want to know whether or not I should be getting flowers again." I finished quietly picking up the straw wrapper and crumpling it a bit more in my hand.

"They were doing fine the last time I checked them." She replied in a tired tone. "You'll probably have to change them next week if you're not busy." She added on. 

"We'll see if my schedule will allow." I sighed in response. "I mean, I usually have the day off on Saturday, but next week is apparently really busy for the guys." I added on referring the seven roommates I had suddenly aquired about a month ago. I heard her sleepy chuckle from the other end.

"When do I get to meet them?" She nearly whined. "You keep putting it off, Euna!" She continued loudly to which I had to hold my phone away from my ear. "You're just keeping them to yourself aren't you!" She said accusingly causing me to wince from her sharp tone.

"Aishh!" I retorted into the receiver. "Quiet down, you're too loud and you'll blow the speaker on my phone." I added on. "I already told you that I don't know if you can ever meet them." I reasoned. "Their manager told me that I shouldn't be involving them in my personal life and they're extremely busy anyway." I continued. "They hardly ever have a day off and when they do, they use it to lounge around and hang out." 

"But Euna!" She whined again. "You could invite them to hang out with you!" She added and I sighed with irritation. I pinched the bridge of my nose shaking my head. 

"I doubt that they'd be interested in hanging out with their photographer, Hana." I finished off. "I've got to go now." I said as I stood up. I was just about to hang up when she stopped me.

"Wait!" She screeched and again I winced. "What are you doing on your birthday?!" She inquired causing me to think for a bit. My birthday wasn't for another two weeks on a Friday. That Friday was halloween and I was pretty damn sure that I was going to be busy taking pictures of the guys.

"I'm pretty sure I'll be working that day." I muttered to myself. "If I wasn't working that day, you know exactly what I would be doing." I added. "Why do you ask?" I questioned feeling as if I would regret it after.

"I want to take you out for that day and treat you to lunch and shopping." She responded all happily as I grabbed my things and threw my trash away. I made my way back to the sidewalk as she spoke. "It'll be fun. Just ask them if that can be your freeday." She continued. "It will be your birthday after all and we need to celebrate it!" She rambled on.

"I'll ask, but I don't think it will happen." I sighed. "Even if I do get a freeday, I don't feel like celebrating my birthday this year." I breathed quietly. 

"Well, you're either celebrating or I'm revoking your visiting privileges." She threatened causing me to falter in my step. "As much as it pains me to do that to you, you spend enough time at the hospital as it is." She continued on sternly. "It's not healthy for you to keep doing that to yourself, Euna and you know it." I didn't respond. I didn't think I could really at all because she was right. I was on a first name basis with a good amount of staff there and they knew me quite well there. "Euna, I don't like seeing you hurt every time I'm there on my shift." 

"It's not like I can help it." I said softly. "I just want to be there in case-." She cut me off.

"In case Jaewon wakes up." She finished off for me. I once again went quiet. "I don't mean to be a downer, but it's been a year."

"A lot of people have been in comatose for longer than a year." I tried reasoning with her. "He's still got a chance." I breathed.

"But that chance is getting slimmer and slimmer and we both know it." She replied shakily. I could hear it in her tone. She was hurting just as much as I was about the entire situation. "That's why you've stopped asking Dr. Han about his brain activity." She continued. She wasn't wrong. I stopped asking months ago after no changes had taken place. I didn't dare ask again with the fear of the result being the same.

"Has anything changed?" I asked as steadily as I could. My voice caught itself in my throat for a moment before I finished the question. I was met with no answer at all. Either she didn't know how to deliver the heartwrenching news or she knew that her silence was enough of an answer. In my case, it was. "I didn't think so." I sighed shakily as I started walking again.

"Euna." She said firmly once more. I could hear the sadness in her tone. "I know you don't like talking about this, but you-." I immediately cut her off knowing where she was going.

"That's not an option for me, Hana." I barked sharply. My voice cracked. "That's not an option and you know it." I continued on quickly.

"But you've got to consider-." She tried again, but I stopped her once more.

"There's nothing to consider!" I retorted not caring for the stares I recieved from those passing by. "I'm not doing that to him! There's no way you can change my mind!" I continued. "He's still got a chance and I'm not giving up on him." I finished sharply as I crossed the street. I was once again met with silence before I heard what sounded like a frustrated sigh. "I've got to go." I repeated before saying my goodbyes and hanging up. I didn't give her a chance to say anything else. I shoved my phone back into my pocket and continued on my way to the hospital. The conversation we had with each other only rang through my head. I knew she was right and that I was just being stubborn. With every step I took, I felt my heart grow heavier and heavier. My breathing grew more and more ragged. And finally, my eyes blurred over with what couldn't be mistaken for anything else but tears. I wiped at them with my sleeve in a futile attempt to clear my vision. It worked to an extent, but the tears continued to come down. I could feel curious eyes on me as I walked. Even though I wanted so much to just crumble to the floor in a mess of tears, I couldn't do that. Not here at least. So I hastened my pace and walked faster. I'd be at the hospital soon enough.

Author's Note:

Salutations and happy holidays guys! This chapter happened to come out very late and I'm sorry for that. I've been so caught up in school at the moment and I've been doing projects here and there. I'm finally on a break and so I worked hard to get this out by Christmas as a present to those subscribed. Which by the way I'd like to thank the subscribers. There are only three four of you, but you guys offer so much support to me just by being subscribed. I may or may not add more onto this chapter by the way, so keep a look out for that.

Also, I've debated the thought of making it a regular thing to have Euna's outfits available at the end of each chapter like it is in the first. Just a thought.

Anyway please leave some feedback. Constructive criticism is appreciated. Hate will make me cry inside. 

Thank you again and Happy Holidays!

- thesmilinggod